Zika deserves our attention
If you could possibly prevent your child or your grandchild from being born with Alzheimer’s disease, you would try everything within reason to prevent this. So why are we not doing more to prevent the Zika virus from invading Hawaii?
While we have a lot to learn about Zika, we do know that women who are infected during pregnancy have a significant risk of birthing a baby with serious birth defects, most notably microcephaly (“tiny brain”). Try to imagine how a young family could deal with this.
We also know that here on the Big Island we have two invasive species of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) that can transmit the Zika virus, and that people fly to Hawaii every day from areas that harbor Zika (like American Samoa and Brazil).
So what can be done? First, we should push the US government to spend whatever it takes to develop a vaccine against the Zika virus. The cost of one bomber should cover this.
But these mosquitoes also spread dengue fever, yellow fever, and the dreaded Chikungunya virus that leaves a majority of infected people with chronic arthritis. So the mosquitoes need to go.
Several biotech companies are experimenting with promising techniques to eradicate these two species of mosquitoes. So why don’t we invite them to try to eradicate these two invasive species on the Big Island? There is no down side to such a trial, but there is everything to gain for the future of our children.
In the meantime, use mosquito traps and empty all standing water, because these infections are headed our way.
Charlie Webb, MD
Kailua-Kona
No pride in appearance
We had been coming to the Big Island for many years and were really impressed at how clean and well-kept the island was of litter.
But now, for the past few years, we have noticed an increase of litter and roadside garbage, looks like no one is taking pride in the appearance of the island anymore, which is a shame. We love living here and just want others to try and help keep our island clean once again.
Philip Jordan
Kailua-Kona
Styrofoam no joking matter
Thank you to this publication for reporting on Bill 140, banning use of polystyrene, a.k.a. Styrofoam. Also, a big mahalo to the councilwomen who voted for the bill.
Unfortunately, even with overwhelming support, public testimony, and 5,000 signatures for it, it did not pass. Perhaps it’s because one council member didn’t attend the testimony and just showed up to vote against it, with his mind already made up. Onishi’s term limited, so maybe at this point he doesn’t care what his constituents think? Paleka can be found online in a video stating he would be in favor of a ban on Styrofoam in 2014, last month he voted yes, too, and yet he voted no on Friday. The next disappointment was Kanuha, who decided it was easier to slip out the door and not vote rather than doing the job he was elected to do. How is it acceptable to simply not vote on controversial issues? Did he not realize that voting was a large part of the job?
John Matson, quoted in your front page article June 4, tried to keep the mood light by using humor to make his point, ultimately this is no laughing matter. His satire unfortunately turned out to be too true. Do you remember McDonald’s burgers all used to come in Styrofoam? They decided to cut down on their pollution by eliminating their Styrofoam packaging in their thousands of restaurants in the early ’90s. We currently have a County Council in which the majority is less progressive than McDonald’s was 20 years ago. I would be embarrassed to be a policymaker and vote no on this one. Good thing elections are upon us, the status quo has got to go.
Shannon Matson
Hilo