Nearly 100 people met in Brandon Wednesday evening to hear how the state plans to fight Equine Encephalitis or EEE - the mosquito borne illness that caused two deaths in Rutland County last year.
State Health Commissioner Harry Chen said those tragic deaths ushered in a new reality in Vermont that the state is taking very seriously.
鈥淚 think it was vitally important for us to come back here,鈥� said Chen, 鈥渁nd show you what we鈥檝e done throughout the winter in terms of planning, in terms of building resources and capabilities to better address that new reality.鈥�
State Epidemiologist Erica Berl said once EEE is identified in a particular area, it鈥檚 more likely to show up there again which is why towns around Brandon are at higher risk than other parts of Vermont.
She said that鈥檚 also why it鈥檚 the only part of the state undergoing costly mosquito testing - testing which so far has shown no virus.
But the disease is rare and there鈥檚 little data on how it behaves in Vermont. Berl said that makes it difficult for health officials to identify where the risk is greatest.
Given the risk and the wet weather, Pittsford resident Cathy Rider wanted to know why the state was not being more proactive.
鈥淲hat constitutes a risk? Do you want people to die?鈥� asked Rider. 鈥淚 mean what does it take for you people to spray?鈥�
鈥淔or every person who wants us to spray, there鈥檚 another one who doesn鈥檛 - who didn鈥檛 want us to spray last year in response to illness,鈥� Berl answered. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 balancing risk, it鈥檚 balancing what the public wants and you know both sides are legitimate.鈥�
Berl said the state will conduct aerial spraying only if EEE is found and health officials agree it鈥檚 warranted. She said the state health department will also provide more comprehensive information on mosquito testing and any spraying on their website.
Lesley Wright, an organic farmer in Leicester, says she鈥檚 concerned about EEE like everyone else. But she said she鈥檚 glad the state is taking a more conservative approach on spraying. 鈥淰ery moderated, carefully studied sprays that they might do later in response to a risk. I don鈥檛 feel any problem with that at all,鈥� said Wright, 鈥淚 feel that that鈥檚 health based.鈥�
But the frequent spraying for recreational and economic reasons by the local mosquito control district - that, Wright said, she finds far more troubling.
