Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Report dated 05/02/1998
Fly count: As of earlier today we had just over 1300 flies trapped. Somewhere around 1250 of these were picked up in the site we believe to be the epicenter. The rest have been in and around Umatilla, with one site just over the Lake County in line in south Marion County. Statistically, some 97% of the flies trapped have come from the epicenter. For comparative purposes, there were between 600-700 flies trapped in the Tampa, Florida outbreak last year.
DNA analysis is being done to determine the origin of the flies - and whether or not these have come from either Tampa or Miami Springs. The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) has received approval for a single aerial application of malathion and for the use of diazinon as a soil drench to treat the larval sites. Conditions of use associated with the aerial application are fairly similar to those used in Tampa. Some of these are:
There are two hot lines operational now.
For general information - what is the Medfly, where is the spray area, when is the application to take place, etc - those calls can go to a toll free number: 888-397-1517.
For any health related questions, a local number has been set up by the Lake County Health Department at 742-6358.
Both telephone numbers will be in operation weekdays 8-5, the Health number will be manned until 10 pm.
Application will begin at first light tomorrow morning, and will extend into early-mid afternoon, weather permitting. (No rain expected, wind will be monitored) Applications will begin over Umatilla proper, and work outward to rural areas, to try to reduce inconvenience as much as possible.
The public meeting was well attended with approximately 300 people, with plenty of media. An overview of the situation was presented - including the information provided above - and then a period of questions and answers followed. There were some concerns for possible effects on wildlife, domestic animals, children, fish, and bees. Experts were able to address the questions. Other questions centered on the medfly itself - its origin, whether citizens should apply pesticides themselves (not recommended!), along with the exact location of the spray area. A large map was available, and folks were able to examine it both before and after the meeting - to help get oriented.
In addition to the malathion bait treatments, fruit can not move in or out of the quarantine area (essentially all of Lake County) without approval/treatment. The post office and UPS will assist in monitoring packages, and citizens were asked not to take or send anything out of the area.
We are still in the delination phase - as additional flies are found treatment areas may expand (so far, things have been relatively close - the treatment area is approximately 23 square miles). Ground application will be ongoing until we can complete the areas not covered by the aerial application. (Obviously this takes a good bit longer to do by back pack sprayer!)
FDACS - Division of Plant Industy:
Mediterranean fruit fly information
USDA APHIS: Mediterranean fruit fly information
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-809:
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-626:
Mediterranean Fruit Fly: What Floridians Need To Know