A 21 Million Dollar Bug Spray Campaign in NYC

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Julianna LeMieux

Any public health initiative seeking to reduce the mosquito population is a welcome one — and there’s one taking place in New York City right now. It’s called “Fight Back NYC,” a three-year, $21 million citywide Zika virus awareness campaign.

No one likes mosquitoes, or the viruses they carry, but I think that Mayor Bill de Blasio, together with Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett, really missed the mark with this plan. That’s because their singular focus on mosquitoes has ignored an issue of even greater importance to reduce transmission: condom use.  In my view, our Zika public awareness campaigns should look more like they did for HIV/AIDS in the 1990s.

Since the CDC’s report came out Feb. 5 we’ve known that Zika virus is sexually transmitted, and there are new reports of sexual transmission every week. But, instead of educating the public about this route of transmission, the city is plastering subway cars and garbage trucks with this 3-point plan as how to prevent Zika infection:

1. Remove standing water so mosquitoes cannot breed
2. Apply insect repellent and cover exposed skin to avoid bites
3. Use window screens to keep mosquitoes out

Well, thank you Mr. Mayor. Perhaps the next $21 million should be earmarked for a campaign to tell New Yorkers that umbrellas are useful for staying dry on a rainy day.....To Read More...

My Take -  Imangine that.  Twenty one million dollars to tell us all the things we already know and  condoms for Puerto Rico but not one recommendation for pesticide use?  And the author rightly thinks Warren Wilhelm, Jr. (de Blasio's real name before he changed it) missed the mark?  Imagine that!  But....this is a guy who raised money for the Sandinistas and visited Nicaragua to align himself with the tyrants.  

Warren Wilhelm, Jr, or Warren de Blasio-Wilhelm, or Bill de Balasio has a sordid past.  No wonder he changes his name so often.