By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The county's mosquito and vector control programs were expected to be long gone by the time the weather heated up. But Health Commissioner Doctor Anthony Billittier decided keeping a lid on West Nile and rodent diseases was a priority.
Erie County budget cuts claimed $7.8 million and 179 positions in the Health Department. That left Billittier with some tough choices. The pest and vector control programs aren't mandated. But Billittier decided to cut other areas of the department's budget, including school nurses and a handicapped children's program. Billittier says pest control is that important.
"Our pest and vector program is a vital part of public health," said Billittier. "And, when I look at what the Erie County Health department needs to do, I look at what's being done out in the community and what isn't being done. And the reality of it is, essentially nobody, except maybe a town here or there is dealing with both of these issues...so, if we don't do it...it won't get done."
Still, Billittier says they're not quite out of the woods yet in getting the job done. He says the entire 10 member pest control team is on the job, ready to fight back the rats and mosquitos. But he says purchasing the weapons for their arsenals -- the larvacides and rat poisons -- is slow due to cuts in other departments. He worries the materials may not be on hand when they're needed. And if prevention fails?
"The problem then comes along then if we have an outbreak of the disease. At that point it becomes a state mandated program fro the health department. So, then we'll have to go out and figure out how to deal with the problem after it's already occurred."
Billittier says the state would pick up the tab for half of any costs associated with a disease outbreak. But he says the county would still have to come up with the rest. And he says he can't predict what that cost would be, anymore than he can tell right now, how severe the disease threat from pests will be in the months ahead.