Disaster Vector Control in Mississippi After Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned
ORCID
Goddard: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2617-7141
MSU Affiliation
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology
Creation Date
2026-10-30
Abstract
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing an ecological disaster. Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) entomologists established a vector control program in affected areas with the following objectives: 1) helping local vector control agencies reestablish services, 2) performing mosquito surveillance, and 3) establishing mosquito larviciding and adulticiding where necessary. The MSDH personnel also helped write Action Request Forms requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for increased ground spraying in the 6 lower counties. Mosquito surveillance was conducted daily for 2 wk after the storm, then weekly for another month. Sanitation lagged, with people using makeshift latrines or simply piles of rubbish for bathrooms. Filth flies contaminated food and food surfaces. Responders lived in tent cities, many allowing filth fly access. Approximately 2 wk after hurricane landfall, due to increasing mosquito numbers, MSDH entomologists requested FEMA for an aerial spraying of insecticide to reduce nuisance mosquito biting in the area. A private vendor made 1 application of naled (Dibromt) insecticide in the 3 coastal counties, yielding over 90% control in entire counties in 1 night. No complaints or medical or environmental problems from the increased ground spraying and aerial spraying were reported. Overall, important lessons in disaster vector control were learned, including how to work effectively with Centers for Disease Control, FEMA, and the US Public Health Service personnel, how to manage the public relations/educational aspects, and how to avoid or mitigate political interference in the disaster response.
Keywords
disasters, health department, hurricanes, mosquito control, public health response
Publication Date
6-1-2020
Publication Title
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publisher
The American Mosquito Control Association
First Page
56
Last Page
60
Rights
© 2020 The American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Goddard, J. & Varnado, W. C. (2020). Disaster Vector Control in Mississippi After Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 36(2s), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.2987/18-6870.1
