05/05/98 - Umatilla Mediterranean Fruit Fly Update - FDACS
Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Report dated May 4, 1998
The aerial malathion-bait application took place on schedule Sunday, beginning
about 6:15-6:30 am and was completed around 12:00 (noon) - 12:30 pm. 23.5
acres were treated.
Drift monitoring was conducted to assess deposition at the
sensitive sites identified by Department of Health (DOH) and
by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Efforts were made to avoid
direct application to these areas.
All in all, it appears that the pilots did a good job avoiding these sites.
There were two instances where improvements are needed - these have been
brought to the attention of the program director, and the pilots. In the
first instance (Boys Ranch Schoo), it appeared as though there may have been
some equipment malfunction, coupled with pilot error regarding when/where to
turn off the spray. This was a school site, and being Sunday, no children
were at the facility. An instructor was on site, DACS representatives spoke
to him - he voiced no concerns about the application (he was aware of the
program, and remained outside feeding stock during the fly-overs). He did
express concern about the success of the eradication effort, noting the
importance of agriculture to the well being of the community.
The second site (a retirement community, Lake View Terrace) involved a single
pass over, and it appears that deposition occurred over part of one run.
Residents were concerned about their car paint - no health related concerns
were expressed. The two residents we spoke to offered to help get the word to
the other five or so folks whose cars were affected - to make sure and wash
the cars to avoid the possibility of paint damage. Deposition was very
limited within that complex.
USDA personnel monitored the three city schools and the hospital, and reported
that pilots performed spray cut off over those areas.
Verbal reports from the environmental sites were very favorable. Nothing
visible was observed on dye cards at waters edge from our folks (3 or 4 sites,
I believe). We have not heard reports from USDA personnel who were also out
monitoring in different sites.
(NOTE: The computer programming to assist pilots in identifying the cut off
areas is being improved. During this application, there were two news media
teams, also in helicopters, tailing the applications, along with one small
fixed wing aircraft. Pilots estimat about 30% of the area flown as cut-off
areas - depending on the flight path. This means a lot of switching on/off
on each run. Plus pilots are flying at a low altitude, which means there is a
lot to keep track of as they fly. Additionally, some sites are difficult to
see from the air.)
HOTLINE/HELPLINE: DOH reports that there have been about 25 calls. None have
reported symptoms or other health complaints concerning the application. Most
calls have been about whether it's OK to let the kids play, what to do about
pets, or wanting other more general information. DACS is referring all health
related calls that come into its help line to the DOH line for assistance.
Conversely, DOH is referring operation calls, "bug" calls, etc., to the DACS
helpline. There appears to be very good coordination between these
groups.
For Your Information: the DACS help line [888 397-1517] is operational 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
weekdays and Saturdays, and 6:00 am to 5:00 pm spray days (Sundays). The DOH
hotline [742-6358] will maintain hours between 8:00 - 5:00, based on the
calls coming in. That can change if needed.
We have received a complaint from CRAM (the Tampa group "Citizens Rallying
Against Malathion") who oppose the DOH's risk assessment. They have also
registered their complaint with EPA/Washington. Toxicologists from DOH
and DACS subsequently spoke with EPA, to determine if there were EPA concerns
as a result of this call. EPA is satisfied with the state's position and the
manner in which health messages are being communicated.
FLY FINDS: On Saturday/Sunday - flies were picked up at two new sites,
outside or at the edge of the 23.5 area treated Sunday morning. This expands
the area needing treatment by about 7 square miles. Announcements were sent
out indicating that these areas would be treated Tuesday morning, pending EPA
approval. As of this point, I have not heard whether concurrance has been
given. The idea is to treat that area by air, so that it can be added into
the next Sunday aerial treatment, in order to avoid multiple days with aerial
application. (We prefer to treat one day/week only, as long as it can be done
safely, and the logistics worked out. This avoids a lot of confusion for
everyone). Again, if done, it would only be to these two additional zones,
not to the areas sprayed Sunday.
At this point, there are some 50-60 state and federal personnel on the
project.
1490 Jackson traps, 314 yellow panel traps, and 92 McPhail traps have been
deployed in a 137 square mile trapping grid. To give you a sense of the
complexity of the area - about 29 square miles within the grid are lakes,
wetlands, or otherwise inaccessible areas, which do not have traps. Another
63 square miles south of the current grid will be getting traps this week.
This will take us into an area that was also heavily trapped during last
year's program.
DOH has convened a Public Health Advisory Committee, which will be meeting by
conference call tomorrow. It includes representatives from DOH/Tall, DACS,
the local Health Depts, local physicians, and a physician from the Agro-Med
program at UF.
FDACS - Division of Plant Industy:
Mediterranean fruit fly information
USDA APHIS: Mediterranean fruit fly information
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-809:
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-626:
Mediterranean Fruit Fly: What Floridians Need To Know
The UF/IFAS Pest Alert WWW site is at:
http://pestalert.ifas.ufl.edu/