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Mosquito Control says the commission would need to approve spraying outside of its taxing district.
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 14, 2002
DADE CITY -- Bud and Cookie Brace of Wesley Chapel watched their horse, Creed, die a painful death last week from a mosquito-borne disease.
Now the couple fear that unless Pasco County expands its spraying area, mosquito-borne diseases -- including complications from West Nile virus -- could kill more animals, and maybe a person, in the county.
The Braces showed up Tuesday night to complain to Pasco County Mosquito Control officials, who were called to make a presentation to the County Commission to give an update on preventing the West Nile virus. Although the Braces' horse did not die from West Nile virus complications, they fear mosquito-borne diseases have become an epidemic and that the county needs to ado more.
"I don't care to lose another horse," Cookie Brace yelled at mosquito officials outside the meeting.
A dead crow in Zephyrhills tested positive for the West Nile virus, county commissioners learned Tuesday night, becoming the first known animal victim to the virus in Pasco this year.
Test results on the bird were revealed to county officials on Friday, said Doug Wassmer, entomologist with the mosquito control district outside the commission meeting at the Historic County Courthouse.
Last year, four birds died from complications of West Nile.
More than 100 people have been infected this year in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The worst outbreak is in Louisiana, where 85 people have been infected, including seven older people who have died. Effects of the virus can range from flulike symptoms to a swelling of the brain that can cause death. Last year four birds in Pasco County were killed by complications from the virus.
"The virus is here," Wassmer said after the meeting.
The Braces' 14-month-old horse was killed by eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-borne disease that attacks the brain.
But the Braces' 10-acre farm where they keep their 12 horses falls outside the taxing district for mosquito control.
The Braces want to see the district's spraying of pesticides to expand throughout the county.
"We're doing the best we can," Wassmer told them outside the meeting. "You're not in our taxing district. . . . We can't afford to do the whole county."
To get in the taxing district, neighbors need to petition the County Commission. The process takes up to nine months, though Wassmer said it could be put on a fast track.
Also, Wassmer said, the commission could use emergency funds to pay for spraying outside district boundary lines if it gets a letter from the county's health department saying it is necessary.
The cost would be about 50-cents an acre, he said.
About 330 square miles fall inside the district, which carries a separate tax for property owners. That leaves 415 square miles outside the district.
Already, the district has agreed to spray school grounds, even if they fall outside the district. Wassmer told the commission that the district tests mosquito species at 38 locations and has six flocks of sentinel chickens to test for the West Nile virus.
The district's efforts were of little comfort to the Brace family. They want to see more.
"I'll gladly pay," Mrs. Brace said.
-- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is amrhein@sptimes.com.