Aerial Spraying: Both Sides of the Debate

Two women advocate the pros and cons of aerial spraying for mosquitoes

Until last week, Kirsten George was a healthy, happy newlywed, but her mother, Cindy Harris said she was diagnosed with West Nile fever on Thursday.

"You have the lymph nodes swelling up, real bad fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, the whole nine yards," said Harris.

The diagnosis came the same week the Dallas County Health Department recommended aerial spraying for mosquitoes for the first time since the 1960s.

Theresa McKee does not live in the spray zone, but worries about the health and environmental impacts.

"It's just not good to for the environment. Period," said McKee.

She relies on insects and fish in her backyard to keep the mosquitoes away, and wonders if others are taking enough personal responsibility for the problem.

"I think if, you know, people would spray, spray their kids, pay attention to what they're doing, pay attention to the water sitting around and stuff like that, I honestly think they could get a better handle on it," said McKee.

Harris said people could do a better job of trying to protect themselves, but after seeing the illness firsthand, she said it's also time to spray.

"I think it's absurd that you wouldn't want them to spray because we're not going to get rid of it any other way," said Harris.

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