Application of Relational Bayesian Networks to Vector Control in New York City

We propose a novel way of rapidly formulating hypotheses describing the efficacy of West Nile virus (WNV) control campaigns using relational Bayesian Networks (RBN). RBN takes advantage of both quantitative information and expert opinion. We used multiyear, geo-referenced, and temporal data about dead birds, mosquitoes and humans, to infer probable relationships using proprietary software (CleverSet® Modeler) and discover the RBN that best fit the data for our initial models. Additional expert knowledge was later utilized for augmenting subsequent models. The final RBM was created after relating all the variables of interest that correlate to the occurrence of human cases, positive birds, and positive mosquitoes. The findings of this research suggest that WNV positive birds are valuable indicators of WNV activity. The most probable core organisms are bird-feeding Culex and ground-dwelling birds. WNV preventive measures such as public education, source reduction, and larviciding may be supplemented by adult mosquito control by ground spraying. To effectively interrupt the chain of transmission, careful effort must be devoted to ensuring that fewer mosquitoes remain the day after spray.

Minimizing Occupational Exposure to Pesticide and Increasing Control Efficacy of Pests by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Application on Cowpea

Pesticide operators are often exposed to high levels of contaminants, leading to potential adverse health impacts on these agricultural workers. In tropical regions, pesticide applicators are more vulnerable to dermal exposure than their counterparts in temperate regions. Thus, it is highly desirable to develop new spraying methods to minimize the pesticide exposure level without sacrificing the pest control efficiency. Due to their flexibility, high efficiency, and lower labor intensity, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attracted considerable attention in precision pest management. However, the pesticide operator exposure assessment during the spraying application with UAVs, especially the comparison with conventional ground sprayers, has not been well investigated. In this work, the control effect against thrips on cowpea and operator exposure determination by aerial and ground spraying in Hainan Province were carried out and compared. When biopesticide spinetoram with the same dosage was applied, the field control efficacy against cowpea thrips sprayed by UAVs was higher than that of knapsack electric sprayers. Moreover, UAV spraying could greatly reduce water consumption and working time. For UAV spraying, when the amounts of water applied per hectare were 22.5, 30, and 37.5 L, the control effects on thrips on the first day were about 69.79%, 80.15%, and 80.58%, respectively. When Allura Red as a pesticide surrogate was applied under similar spraying scenarios with the field control against thrips on cowpea, the average total unit exposure of the knapsack operator (1952.02 mg/kg) was greatly higher than that of the UAV operator (134.51 mg/kg). The present research indicates that plant protection UAV is the direction of development of modern intensive sustainable agriculture.

Disaster Vector Control in Mississippi After Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned

ABSTRACT Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing an ecological disaster. Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) entomologists established a vector control program in affected areas with the following objectives: 1) helping local vector control agencies reestablish services, 2) performing mosquito surveillance, and 3) establishing mosquito larviciding and adulticiding where necessary. The MSDH personnel also helped write Action Request Forms requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for increased ground spraying in the 6 lower counties. Mosquito surveillance was conducted daily for 2 wk after the storm, then weekly for another month. Sanitation lagged, with people using makeshift latrines or simply piles of rubbish for bathrooms. Filth flies contaminated food and food surfaces. Responders lived in tent cities, many allowing filth fly access. Approximately 2 wk after hurricane landfall, due to increasing mosquito numbers, MSDH entomologists requested FEMA for an aerial spraying of insecticide to reduce nuisance mosquito biting in the area. A private vendor made 1 application of naled (Dibrom®) insecticide in the 3 coastal counties, yielding over 90% control in entire counties in 1 night. No complaints or medical or environmental problems from the increased ground spraying and aerial spraying were reported. Overall, important lessons in disaster vector control were learned, including how to work effectively with Centers for Disease Control, FEMA, and the US Public Health Service personnel, how to manage the public relations/educational aspects, and how to avoid or mitigate political interference in the disaster response.

Bombing Flies

This chapter explores the use of aircraft to spray organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). It begins by tracing the origins of the practice in KwaZulu, South Africa, where ndege were adopted for pesticide spraying because of their ease of use, capacity for large-scale coverage, very few personnel required, and capability to reach mpukane habitats otherwise inaccessible by ground spraying. The second section examines the technical aspects of aerial spraying as an example of the extension of methods designed in the United States for agricultural or military purposes to deal with zvipukanana and with conditions for which they were not originally designed. In the final sections, the deployment and performance of first fixed-wing aircraft and then helicopters are closely examined.

The Work of Ground Spraying: Incoming Machines in Vatema’s Hands

This chapter focuses on ground spraying. It is organized into three sections. The first concerns the strategic deployment of inbound spraying equipment to perform or operationalize specific objectives and outcomes. The second section looks at the work of spraying, focusing on the meeting point between mushonga wezvipukanana (pesticide), mushini (spraying machine), and sprayman, known in the villages as mafrayi (fly man). The final section is a case study of a spraying campaign involving three neighboring countries: Southern Rhodesia, Portuguese East Africa, and the Union of South Africa. The purpose of the campaign was to stop the advance of mhesvi from the Rio Savé region of Mozambique into the Savé-Runde area, potentially threatening northeastern South Africa.