Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
PLANES STIR FEAR
OF YELLOW FEVER
D. S. Health Officers Find
Infected Mosquitoes
Travel by Air.
BY THOMAS p. HENRY.


The airplane may bring yellow fever
into the United States.
The Public Health Service announced
yesterday the positive results of expert
ments in transporting mosquitoes by
plane from Northern South America,
one of the worlds yellow fever reser-
voirs, to American landing ports.
The experiments, conducted by Surg.
consisted Of spraying broods Of mos
Quitoes Of the aedes aegypti variety,
which Is the known carrier of the yellow
fever micro-organiSm, and then re-
leasing them in the cockpits, cabins
and rear compartments Of various types
Of planes leaving South American and
West Indian ports. They were sprayed
planes reached the United States all
the mosquitoes on board were cap
tured and the chemical reaction of
their bodies from the spray identified
them as the ones which had been re-
leased. These insects were Matched in
the laboratory.
Identified Mt Miami.
Out Of 40 released in Fokker cabin
plane at San Juan, p. r., at least four
Of the dreaded aedes variety which had
been released were recaptured and def
initely identified at Miami 10 hours later.
Later experiments showed much the same
results. The experiments also showed
that 1t Is possible to completely elm
mate the mosquitoes by fumigaticn of
the planes at the various landing po- IS
in the yellow fever zone.
The Public Health Service, it was an
nounced, has made inspections of 102
airplanes arriving at Miami and has
found mosquitoes on 20 per cent OF
them. There were only 20 mosquitoes
In all and only one of these was of the
Redes aegypti variety. But, Public Health
officials point out, single mosquito
In the Southern United States.
Until the Inauguration of airplane
routes from the tropics the United
States has been practically free for
many years Of any danger Of a yellow
fever epidemic. So far as known, the
micro organism responsible for this
dreaded disease Is carried by only
ID the most important. Until recently 1t
was cons ldered the only carrier. It must
have bitten yellow fever victim within
three days of the start of the illness.
The mosquito soon loses its virulence.
Yellow fever Is practically wiped out
except In few foci-Africa, Brazil and
Northern South America. Under these
regulations for ships, 1t was considered
almost impossible for the virus again
to be introduced into the United States.
See Real Danger.
But with the Inauguration Of the
lines Public Health officialS realized that
again there was real danger, especially
as practically none Of the present gen.
Grafton Of Americans has any acquired
Immunity to the disease. The airplane
could bring q mosquito from the bedside
Of stricken victim to Miami in dar
less than the time which would consti-
tute margin Of safety. The only ques-
ton was whether q mosquito would
THAT certain types of airplanes carry
mosquitoes has been proved, says the
Public Health announcement. With con-
ditions at airports such as would permit
many mosquitoes getting aboard 1t might
be expected that approximately one
NTH of the original number would be
transported for q long distance, at least
natural mosquito conditions about air.
ports heavy infestation, like the load
ing of planes in these experiments, would
not be expected and only small numbers
Of mosquitoes would make the trip. How
ever, even one infected or infective
aedeS aegyptt might be the means OF
starting an epidemic. There Is no OBJ
stacle to the ef1icient treatment of air.
planes so as to destroy mosquitoes and
avoid retardation Of air traffic"
The new situation it was pointed out,
requires close inspection Of the pas
sengers. A person in the early stages of
yellow fever might easily board plane
unless detected by medical officers and
even arrive In the United States before
the nature Of his illness was obvious
He might be bitten by a mosquito in the
plane en- route. One mosquito was OBJ
served biting a passenger at approx
reately 5000 feet altitude over the
mountains of the Dominican Republic.
Spray to be Used.
The airplanes lines, the Public Health
Service announced. co-operated in the
experiments and have expressed their
anxiety to comply with any sanitary
regulations which will eliminate the
danger. This can easily be accom-
plished, 1t Is pointed out in the report.
by proper spraying Before taking of and
by rigid inspection, Of passengers to
eliminate any possible yellow fever VIC
tins. Some planes, 1t was found, are
physically more suited to carrying mos
quitoes than others. Baggage compart-
ments are places Of special danger.