Thursday, February 25, 2010

It is clear that some in our community do not understand the impact that mosquito-borne illnesses would have on the health of our residents and our economy. Instead of ensuring that our community has adequate resources to prevent and defend against vector-borne diseases, they argue that we should reduce or eliminate the very reserves that helped us dramatically slow the spread of dengue, and cut the very staff positions that have been added to deal with this outbreak.

When I was first elected mosquito control commissioner 14 years ago, our program consisted of aerial spraying with a 1940s aircraft, two spray trucks, no entomologist, a $500,000 budget shortfall, and we used ineffective larvicide that cost over $250 per acre. Our Middle Keys operations were housed in a 1950s three-bedroom house that flooded several times. William Shaw, Joan Lord-Papy and myself voted in changes that resulted in the establishment of a scientific approach to controlling disease-carrying mosquitoes and a modernized agency that has saved taxpayers over $20 million.

Ed Fussell, the top medical entomologist from the state of Florida, accepted our challenge to take the reins of this struggling organization and turn it into a program employing methods needed to control ever-present mosquitoes. Ed has spent his entire professional life in mosquito control, having an entomology degree and a master's degree in epidemiology and public health from Yale University School of Medicine. A scientist with his experience and education was not inexpensive, but the benefits have far outweighed the costs.

Mr. Fussell carefully guided us as we established a realistic budget, replaced aging aircraft, rusting trucks, and spray equipment that did not work, and employed a staff that could evaluate what was needed to control mosquitoes in our environmentally sensitive county.

Under Fussell's guidance, and working with our entomologists, the district began using an environmentally friendly larvicide containing naturally occurring bacteria. This major change in the way the Keys addressed mosquitoes -- source reduction -- cut costs to about $13 per acre, which has saved Monroe County taxpayers over $20 million.

Fussell realized that we were fighting a losing mosquito battle in several areas of our county -- especially Big Pine, No Name and the Torch keys. Offshore islands owned by the federal government -- classified as a wilderness areas -- were breeding tens of millions of mosquitoes. These islands were off-limits to mosquito control. Because of Mr. Fussell's reputation, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service allowed us to conduct limited tests to see if source reduction would result in decreased aerial spraying of pesticides to control adult mosquitoes. It was successful and today a large part of our operation is on the offshore islands. The need to use a pesticide is almost nonexistent in these areas. We are the only mosquito control organization allowed access to government-owned wilderness lands. This source reduction is not only better for the environment, it saves us hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

A couple of years ago, the commission voted unanimously to construct a facility in Marathon to house our aircraft, laboratories and staff. This publicly owned building was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. It is designed to be as hurricane-resistant as possible and save taxpayers money by allowing aircraft to remain in the Keys during storms and giving us the ability to begin operations as soon as the storm has passed. It provides community meeting space, and will be serving us for generations.

Commissioners Joan Lord-Papy, Bill Langstaff and I respect and support this director. We are the only commissioners who have taken time to attend state and national educational programs to learn what is necessary to make proper decisions ensuring the public's health and comfort. We have learned what chemicals are available, how other programs are being challenged, and staff has presented our control programs many times. Our goal is to provide the most effective mosquito control program possible in a way that is cost-effective for taxpayers.

We take our elected positions seriously. We do not take potshots at staff and management, do not make wisecracks at commission meetings, or consider the threat of vector-borne disease "scare tactics." We do not misrepresent mosquito control to our fellow citizens: We tell it like it is. I have always been available by phone, as I am sure have the other commissioners, to speak about our program and the many issues that currently face operating a mosquito control program.

Stephen K. Smith is chairman of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board of Commissioners.