HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 5 VECTOR CONTROL 06-02-86DATE:
MAY 23, ]986
REPORTS
NO. 5
6-2-86
Inter-Com
TO:
FROH:
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
POLICE DEPARTMENT
VECTOR CONTROL
The term vector means "disease carrier." I called the Vector
Control for Orange County and they advised me that possums are not
considered vectors. They have the potential for carrying rabies,
however none have ever been found to, in fact, be carrying
rabies. There is a much greater likelihood that possums would
carry a flea which is known to carry a disease called marine
typhus, which is not a life threatening disease, but one that
causes flu-like symptoms. Normally, this is found in very rural
areas since the flea is one that is common to animals like deer,
cattle, etc: There are no known reports of marine typhus
occurring in city areas and so .far, there have only been 2
reported in the rural areas.
Vector Control advised me that the only thing they have to do with
possums is the fact that they have approximately l0 possum traps
that are available for loan to the public. They provide these
traps as a matter of public courtesy, not because of any potential
for possums to be classified as vectors. Since there is such a
backlog for the traps, there is approximately 6 weeks waiting
period to get one from them. If, in fact, a possum was trapped,
it would be the responsibility of Orange County Animal Control to
res-pond to remove the animal.
Orange County Animal Control is our primary agency for response to
dead or trapped possums. Currently, all reports of dead possums
are handled on "as they can get to" basis. Emergency situations
such as a possum inside someone's house or a possum in the area of
school children, or any other situation involving the probability
of involving individuals and the animal, are handled on a higher
priority basis.
If at some point in the future, either possums or the fleas they
sometims carry, are determined to become vectors, the Vector
Control Agency of Orange County advised me that they would operate
through the State Vector Health Agency in order to develop
policies and procedures for responding to any threat this animal
may have to the public (i.e. as they currently do now in regards
to rats and other such animals).
Chief of Police
CRT:dh