Bird Flu

Bird flu A few years ago some folks in the "Bavarian" themed mountain town of Leavenworth Wa, near my home, raised quite a stink when the city wanted to spray for mosquitoes, fearing the effects of pesticides more than the ramifications of many mosquito bites. Last year West Nile raised it ugly head in our area, and given the prospect that mosquitos could now become deadly, funny, there wasn't the outcry against spraying. It is always fascinating to me how people can hold such "strong" positions on issues until those issues become personal and then the water gets a bit muddy. Take bird flu in Asia. We know that flies are responsible for carrying the virus, which to date has caused the death of 46 people. A Japanese official has said the flies must be exterminated. How will that happen without the use of pesticides? It won't Groups like the World Health Organization have caved in response to pressure from the environmental front who continues to oppose the use of effective pesticides like DDT. One has to wonder if that position would change if their own children were threatened by flies carrying this dreaded disease. I think we all know the answer. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought. Source: ENN.com 02/23/05 USA Today 022805