XVIII. Public Health and Recreational Area Insects

 M. P. Nolan, Jr., S. K. Braman, W. G. Hudson, and B. L. Sparks

In 1995 flies were the most expensive public health insects to control. Most of the costs involved garbage management and screening to exclude various filth flies from buildings. The housefly was the most common filth fly encountered.

Government agencies that were dedicated to the control of a single insect pest were primarily concerned with mosquitoes. Ninety-four counties in the state had one or more mosquito control programs. Mosquito numbers were moderate most of the season except in flooded areas in the southwest section of the state. There were two human cases of arthropod borne encephalitis reported in 1994; two human cases of EEE in 1991 but no cases for EEE or any of the other arthropod borne encephalitides reported in 1992 or 1993. In 1991 there were 24 imported malaria cases, 17 in 1992, 25 in 1993 and 43 in 1994 and 41 in 1995.

Ticks, mostly lone star ticks, American dog ticks and black legged ticks, were present in many sections of the state. Their bites and their ability to serve as vectors of Lyme disease and Rocky mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) made them important public health arthropods. There were 14 reported cases of Lyme disease in 1995 compared to 127 in 1994, 63 in 1993, 48 in 1992, 25 in 1991, 161 in 1990, 715 in 1989, 59 in 1988, 4 in 1987 and none in previous years. There were 9 cass of RMSF in 1995 compared to 62 cases in 1994, 45 cases in 1993, 42 cases in 1992, 41 cases in 1991 (including one death), 18 in 1990 (including one death), and 25 in 1989. (Data on vector borne disease provided by the Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, Georgia Department of Human Resources).

Summary of Insect Control and Loss Estimates

1"Others" includes spiders, biting flies, bees and other stinging insects (other than yellow jackets).

Summary of Insect Control and Losses Estimates

Cost of Control Estimates

Mosquitoes - 40%, Flies - 40%, Eye gnats - 5%,
Yellow jackets - 5%, Others^1,2 - 10%

1. Window screens - 10 screens/residence x $10.00/screen = $100/residence x 2,399,3393 residences = $239,933,900. 20 year life/screen = $11,996,695/year x 75% who have window screens - $ 8,997,521
2. Screened doors - 2 screened doors/residence x $60/screened door = $120/residence x 2,399,339 residences =$287,920,680. 15 year life span/screen door = $19,194,712/year x 75% who have screened doors - 14,396,034
3. Aerosol sprays - 1/2-15 oz. aerosol insecticide spray can/residence. $4/can x 1/2 x 2,399,339 residences = $4,798,678  - 4,798,678
   
   Subtotal      -    $28,192,233
   
                   Mosquitoes - 35%, Ticks and Chiggers - 30%,
                              Eye gnats - 25%, Others¹ - 10%
    
4. Repellents - 1/2-15 oz. aerosol spray can/residence. $3/can x 1/2 x 2,399,339 residences = $3,599,008  - $355,999,008
   
                                                Mosquitoes - 100%
    
5. Mosquito Abatement Program
   (a) Six abatement districts (Chatham, Bibb, Glynn, Dougherty, Richmond and Muscogee Counties) -  $ 2,421,650
   (b) About 1174 county/city programs, $4,500/program - 526,500
6. Doctor fees - 3 encephalitis cases, 41 imported malaria cases $4005/case x 44 cases = $17,600 -  17,600
7. Hospitalization - $4,0005/case x 44 cases = $176,000  -  176,000
8. Druggist Fees - $1005/case x 44 cases = $4,400 -  4,500
   
   Subtotal      -    $ 3,146,150
   
                                                  Flies - 100%
    
9. Garbage removal - $50/residence/year x 2,399,339 residences = $119,966,950 x 10% (portion attributed to insect control) = $11,996,695/year  -  $11,996,695
10. Garbage disposal units (dumpsters - county, commercial and industrial) - $500 /unit; 1 unit/100 residences. 23,993 units x $500 x 10% (portion attributed to insect control) = $1,199,669. 10 year life span/ unit = $119,966/year - 119,966
11. Garbage cans (residential) - 2/residence = $15/can x 2 x 2,399,339 residences = $71,980,170 x 10% (portion attributed to insect control) = $7,198,017. 6 year life span/can = $1,199,669 1,199,669
12. Fly swatters - 1/2 fly swatter/residence $0.59/fly swatter x 1/2 x 2,399,339 residences = $707,805 707,805
    
    Subtotal      -    $ 14,024,135
    
                                        Ticks and Chiggers - 100%
     
13. Acaracides (residential) - of 2,399,339 residences, estimated 5% purchase $10.00 acaracide for tick control in yards $ 1,199,669
14. Acaracides (public and private organizations) 20,000
15. Doctor fees - 9 RMSF cases and 14 Lyme cases $4005/case x 23 cases = $9,200
16. Hospitalization - $4,0005/case x 23 cases=  $92,000
17. Druggist fees - $1006/case x 23 cases = $2,300 2,300
    
    Subtotal     -     $ 1,323,169
    
                       Yellow jackets - 40%, Others¹ - 49%
                    Eye gnats - 1%, Mosquitoes - 10%
     
18. Doctor fees (bites and stings) 1 visit/100 residences at $40/visit = 20,286 residences x $40/visit = $811,440 $ 811,440
19. Druggist fees - 1 visit/100 residences at $10/ visit = 20,286 residences x $10 = $202,860 202,860
    
    Subtotal   -       $ 1,014,300
    
                               Head lice - 100%
     
20. Doctor fees - 4% of 807,2886 school children in ages 5-10 = 32,291 at $40/visit x 32,291 = $1,291,640 $ 1,291,640
21. Druggist fees - pediculicides for head lice - $10/pediculicide x 807,2886 school children in ages 5-10 15% estimated infestation = $1,210,932 1,210,932
    
    Subtotal  -           $ 2,502,572

¹ "Others" includes spider, biting flies, bees and other stinging insects (other than yellow jackets).
² Estimated percent importance insect has to control.
³ 1990 (Jan. 1991) Census data.
⁴ Based on 1988 county agent survey for mosquito control programs by county.
⁵ Based on New York State Department of Health report of over $4,000 hospital cost/case of Lyme disease is reported by CDC, Lyme Disease Surveillance, Volume 4, Number 2, March 1993.
⁶Based on 1988 Georgia County Guide, Cooperative Extension Service