Here’s another solution to eradicating mosquitoes
It would appear, from the information released to the public, that Hawaii citizens have two choices: 1) accept the risk of dengue fever becoming established here, and the possibility of the introduction of at least three other very nasty viral diseases carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito; or 2) accept localized spraying of insecticides with unknown health effects and still have the possibility of contracting these diseases.
Very few people are aware that another technique of mosquito control, using nontoxic chemicals, was first tested in the Cayman Islands in 2010, and continues to be used there. Further tests have been conducted in Panama, Brazil and Malaysia with results showing that 80 to 90 percent of the native population of A. aegypti mosquitoes can be eliminated, leaving too few to spread diseases. Officials in the Florida Keys were so impressed that they are planning trials there.
The technique involves releasing male (nonbiting) mosquitoes that have been bred with a gene that causes the death of the larvae hatched from eggs fertilized by these males. Authorities in the Cayman Islands concluded that this technique not only had fewer health risks than spraying, but was also more cost-effective.
Is it the best technique for Hawaii? I don’t know, but it would be nice to hear from our health officials that they have done a thorough investigation of this possibility and can inform the public of the pros and cons, and the reason for their decision to pursue or not pursue this method of protecting our health.
Unlike the Cayman Islands, which has dozens of species of mosquitoes, we have only six in Hawaii, two of which can transmit dengue fever. So we have the possibility of achieving the near-elimination of all species of mosquitoes here, which would not only prevent the introduction of mosquito-borne human diseases, but also eradicate avian malaria, which is the primary force driving many of our native birds toward extinction — and just think of the wonders it might accomplish for the tourist trade.
Doug Perrine
Kailua-Kona
Refugee hysteria unfounded
This hysteria about the admission of 10,000 carefully vetted Syrian refugees is downright embarrassing. Even the normally temperate Leningrad Elarionoff is spooked.
Folks, get a grip! There are between 80,000 and 100,000 (nobody seems worried enough to get an exact count) Saudi Arabian students studying right now in this country. Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers hailed from that country, but do you hear any hand-wringing from our university communities?
If this gets any worse, we’ll have to ship the Statue of Liberty (“Give us your tired, your poor”) back where it came from — France.
David Polhemus
Waimea