Despite the recent snow storms, Independence Township has an eye on the summer and more specifically the West Nile Virus.
Clerk Joan McCrary was among a group from Independence Township to attend the Oakland County Health Division’s Mosquito Smarts program. The program went over an implementation plan to combat the West Nile Virus.
The West Nile Virus is a mosquito-born virus never before detected in the Western Hemisphere before 2002. Among county residents, the outbreak resulted in more than 200 confirmed cases, including 20 fatalities.
“It was a very interesting program,” McCrary said. “It was a real intense three hour presentation. Nobody realized what a terrible problem this was until so many people started getting sick last year.”
Oakland County will give $500,000 to local townships, cities and villages. Everyone can apply for funds but the decision is going to be based on population and geographical area.
“Hopefully we will get a nice piece of the money because we are such a large area,” McCrary said.
Instead of the money going to spraying with the intent to kill mosquitoes after they have arrived, which the program said would be a losing battle, the county is looking at spraying water where the eggs are formed as a way of cutting the problem off at the head.
McCrary also said the Oakland County Commissioners will be addressing the topic during their first meeting in March.
“You have to do everything between March and May because the end of June through August is mosquito season,” McCrary said.
The program informed that children are not at a big risk, but rather individuals over the age of 50, those with immune system problems or people with chronic illnesses should be concerned.
Obviously the way to protect yourself is to minimize your contact with mosquitoes. The program preached the three R’s which are: reduce areas where mosquitoes breed, repel through the use of protective clothing and appropriate spray and report mosquito-breeding areas to the proper personnel.
The program pointed out residents should eliminate standing water that collects in birdbaths, boats, tires or children’s wagons were mosquito populations would be high.
The Independence Township Board plans to address the issue in the near future after the County Commissioners make some decisions.