West Nile Virus preparedness in Multnomah County : efficacy, benefits, and limitations of adulticide use for mosquito-borne disease

Graduation date: 2004The objectives of this study were to provide a comprehensive review of the\ud risks and benefits of using adulticides to reduce risk of mosquito-borne disease\ud (particularly West Nile Virus) transmission to humans, as well as to decrease\ud annoyance from nuisance mosquitoes. The study was designed with two major\ud research components, including: 1) an extensive literature review to determine the\ud efficacy of adulticide use, the adverse effects of adulticide use, the impact of\ud mosquitoes on community livability, and the risks and benefits of pesticide use in\ud controlling mosquitoes; and 2) interviews with selected vector districts in seven\ud states to determine effective and ineffective practices in mosquito management.\ud This study has demonstrated that an integrated mosquito management program\ud may be beneficial in reducing risk of disease transmission and mosquito\ud annoyance when performed appropriately. The contribution of adulticiding to\ud reducing mosquito-borne disease transmission, however, is unknown. Research is\ud needed to: 1) further assess the ecological and human impacts of adulticides using\ud the dose and exposure rates realistic to an adulticide program; 2) gain an\ud understanding of the human and ecological impacts of aggregate and cumulative\ud exposures to pesticides, especially for special populations, such as children; and 3)\ud determine the contribution of adulticiding in interrupting or reducing the enzootic\ud amplification of arboviruses, as well as the transmission of WNV to humans