05/06/98 - Umatilla Mediterranean Fruit Fly Update - FDACS
Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Report dated May 5, 1998
EPA gave approval last night for an aerial application today. This
application was made to the seven square mile area that was added as a result
of
fly finds Saturday and Sunday. The application began shortly after 9:00 am,
and concluded around noon. Two news helicopters observed the application from
the air. Drift monitoring and water samples were collected at the
environmental sites.
These two areas do not contain sites with sensitive populations as identified
by the Department of Health (DOH). There were additional lakes captured,
however, and the preliminary report is again favorable. Minimal to no
deposition was observed at the monitored sites.
NOTE: A fish kill in Lake Yale (in the new area) was reported this
morning, but had occurred prior to the malathion bait application.
Tissue samples were not collected.
No additional flies have been found for the last two days. We expect to
see the counts drop following bait application, and it's good not to
find new sites. Traps continue to be deployed in the surrounding areas.
The Public Health Advisory Committee met today by teleconference. So
far, there have been no health complaints received by the DOH, the Poison
Information Center, the Emergency Rooms, or any of
the physicians that have been contacted. The DOH has received about 35
calls (as of early this morning), mostly informational in nature. The
Ag Helpline [888 397-1517] and DOH Hotline [742-6358] are working well together
to refer callers
to each other as appropriate.
I have requested that our media personnel stress the DOH Hotline
number - USDA media representatives are also requesting that papers, radio
stations, TV, etc. publish the DOH Hotline. Hopefully that number will be
broadcast a little better.
The Lake County Commissioners met today and were briefed by the USDA
regarding eradication procedures. Under the current situation, there
are two basic options:
-
Four bait (ground and aerial) applications, followed by Sterile
Insect release for two to three life cycles, then two to three life cycles of
trapping
before the agricultural quarantine can be lifted. Assuming no more finds
during or after the sterile release, quarantine would extend to about
December under this scenario. That also assume the picture doesn't
change dramatically during the first four bait applications.
-
Eight bait applications followed by two to three cycles of trapping. Again,
assuming no more finds during the trapping - quarantine would be lifted
sometime in August-September.
The County Commissioners are concerned about the impacts on the local
industry/economy. Because this area is largely a fresh fruit producing
area, as opposed to juice oranges, a quarantine during the fall harvest
and shipping months will be very costly. It is my understanding that
the Commissioners have requested the second option, and may be sending a
letter to various officials to that effect.
The next aerial application is scheduled for Sunday, again, pending EPA
approval. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of
Environmental Protection, and USDA will again monitor sensitive
sites (the seven DOH sites, lakes, etc). As we begin to get results in,
I will share them with you.
We are still looking for a "home" for a command center.
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/