[StBernard] Council Passes Ordinance Related to Mosquito and Rat Problems

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish's Council passed an emergency ordinance Wednesday night
to ask federal and state authorities to help deal with public health
concerns over mosquito samples that are testing positive for St. Louis
encephalitis and West Nile virus and rats problems associated with thousands
of homes abandoned with refrigerators and pantries with food inside that
rats can eat.
 
Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez issued a health alert for
residents on Tuesday after receiving evidence of 7 of 12 mosquito samples
from Arabi and Chalmette testing positive for the dangerous St. Louis
encephalitis and a number of positive samples for the West Nile virus. No
human cases have been reported in St. Bernard but in St. Tammany Parish
several people have died of West Nile, health officials have said.
 
On Wednesday night, at a special meeting, Council members voted unanimously
for a special ordinance to seek help under federal guidelines that could
allow FEMA to reimburse costs for fighting vectors, or carriers, of disease,
including rats and mosquitos. 
 
The Council also said residents should take precautions against mosquito
bites, including use of repellant and wearing longsleeve shirts during
mosquito activity and try to empty all areas of standing water. A 5-gallon
bucket containing water could breed thousands of mosquitos.
 
Also, aerial spraying for mosquitos will be stepped up and it was announced
that repellant will be given out at as a precaution at any outdoor youth
sporting event. 
Mosquito Control Department Director Will Schulte said his department has
been going around and checking swimming pools in the parish to make sure
they have minnows that will eat mosquito larvae. Schulte also said anyone
who wants to get minnows for areas of standing water can come to his
department on Palmisano Boulevard in Chalmette, behind the library which is
on East St. Bernard Highway.
Schulte said rats are becoming more of a problem and have been seen going in
and out of abandoned homes.
 
Trailer homes are also vulnerable to rats and mosquitos, he said.
 
 "A large number of samples (of mosquitos) from Arabi and Chalmette have
tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis,'' which affects the elderly,
children and the immuno-suppressed, Rodriguez said Tuesday. Several samples
have also tested positive for West Nile Virus, in which infections are most
serious in the elderly and the immuno-suppressed. The period of high virus
activity may continue until the onset of cooler weather.
 
The large number of homes in St. Bernard Parish abandoned by residents after
flooding by Hurricane Katrina could contribute to the potential health
problem, Rodriguez said. Clogged drains also become breeding grounds, he
said.
Individuals should take the following precautions during high viral
activity:
- Make sure your dwelling is as mosquito-proof as possible, including
screens. With trailer homes, that includes checking underneath to ensure
there are no openings around plumbing, behind the sink, etc. These areas can
be sealed with insulation available from building supply companies.
 
- If you must be outside with mosquitos are active, use repellant and/or
protective clothing such as long-sleeve shirts and long pants. Repellants
that are effective include Deet and picaridin. Cutter, a picaridin product
is available in the St. Bernard stores, including Walgreen's and Home Depot.
 
- Empty or discard containers holding rainwater.
 
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