As you may have heard, a dead crow was found on a path between Peri Park and the Fairfax Pavilion in early August. The Marin-Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District said the bird, along with another found in Petaluma, tested positive for West Nile Virus, but said no human cases have been reported. The virus is spread to humans by mosquitoes.

How best should Fairfax respond to this finding? Should the town suspend the pesticide ordinance in view of the West Nile virus? Of course, our answer would be a resounding NO! While communities have good intentions, many existing policies and programs may be dangerous to children, adults and wildlife and inadequate by relying too heavily on spraying pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes. We need to protect ourselves and our children from toxins.

For more information about the virus and alternative ways of dealing with the problem, check out these links:

• Pesticide Action Network North America paper on West Nile Virus in the US
• Beyond Pesticides Alternatives to Spraying resources
• Beyond Pesticides fact sheet: The Truth About Mosquitoes, Pesticides and West Nile virus (71 Kb PDF file download)

For more information about Fairfax's Neighborhood Notification (Pesticide) ordinance click here!