Rob Sandelin wrote:
> Just to be sure we all have this in perspective, you have a much higher>
chance of dying ... on the way to work in a car wreck. I personally waste>
little thought about west nile having a possible affect on me but worry
much> about its affects on bird life.
>
Further perspective: I also wonder about the knee-jerk reaction many folks
have, dousing themselves with DEET and soaking their clothes with repellent.
My personal instinct is that I'd have a higher chance of dying from
pesticide-induced cancer than from West Nile or anything else
mosquito-borne. Long sleeves, long pants, thick socks, even a head net if
the bugs are really bad, fine -- but I'd rather take my chances with "less
effective" non-chemical remedies, just because we really don't fully
understand the consequences of the chemical fixes.
This goes for effects on birds, as well. As I recall, some of the autopsies
that've been done on suspected West Nile bird fatalities have shown that
more birds died as a result of spraying for mosquitoes, than from West Nile
itself.
David White
drmwhite at nets.com
Santa Fe NM/Auburn WA


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