West Nile Virus Outbreak Puts Dallas In State of Emergency

Penurious Penguin writes with news from the BBC that the city of Dallas "is experiencing a widespread outbreak of mosquito-borne West Nile Virus that has caused and appears likely to continue to cause widespread and severe illness and loss of life," and writes that the city "has declared a state of emergency. West Nile virus can be asymptomatic or produce multiple symptoms, but can also lead to fevers, and the potentially fatal meningitis or encephalitis. Birds are the most common carriers and mosquitoes are the vector for human infection."

Re:No one has posted in minutes!

[Anonymous Coward]

They are all off changing their PSN passwords

nylon

[nten]

Nylon is fine, but it will destroy other stuff. Permethrin should only be sprayed on clothes, but it does a good job too, actually kills the things.

  I think we should bring back DDT worldwide, they have lost some of their developed immunities by now. Once they start developing immunities we can start with the organochlorides, then the organophosphates, then the pyrethrins, and by then they should be vulnerable to DDT again. Sure, we won't have any birds or flowering plants, but we can get by on wind pollinated crops. Probably need to devote some extra money to cancer research too.

But... What About The Mosquitoes?

[Greyfox]

Won't someone think about the poor endangered malaria mosquito? This majestic creature used to roam the plains in the billions, but thanks to eradication efforts and habitat encroachments in now roams the plains in slightly fewer billions! You know what the problem is? It's fair weather environmentalists! Oh sure, it's easy to get behind an endangered animal when it's cute and fuzzy! But they're nowhere to be found when it has six legs, sucks human blood and helps spread a deadly disease! I suppose if another spraying program is enacted, they won't be down at city hall protesting! Won't someone think of the mosquitoes?!

Re:nylon

[the eric conspiracy]

Honey bees are not native to the US, so no big deal. Native REAL AMERICAN flowering plants will do just fine. It's those illegal immigrant flowering plants that will disappear.

Re:I'm in VA...

[geekoid]

That post was not insightful. deserves -1 ignorant.

So you are saying we shouldn't worry about it until thousands die?
How about you let the smart people handles and you just worry about getting your ticket to the 'B' ark.

Re:nylon

[sjames]

Yes, but even the best Major Leaguers can only manage a bit over 0.300.