As the Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee members wade through stacks of information regarding expert speakers, surrounding towns' reports, scientific studies, and their own research, among other sources, a more ambiguous element lingers regarding a means to reduce tick-borne disease incidents in Newtown's residents.
Public perception or "the social element" is also a factor, agreed committee Chairman Dr Robert Grossman. "We'll take into account what the public thinks," he said. While disease-carrying ticks are the culprits transmitting illnesses such as Lyme disease to residents out walking in the woods or children playing in the backyard, deer play a role in potential health problems facing Newtown, he pointed out. Despite the letters he has received arguing against killing deer, he said, "The overwhelming evidence is that deer cause problems." The question his committee faces is how to deal with tick-borne disease, "and health and safety, which include motor vehicle accidents, and we know there are many."
As his committee works to assemble a comprehensive final report with recommendations in coming weeks, he said, "We will base our recommendations on facts, what the experts have told us," and if group members have differences of opinion regarding data the report will "make that distinction, all opinions have weight." The report will go before the Board of Selectmen for assessment.
He is concerned with public perception, but asks, "Who is the public?" He envisions animal rights proponents along with residents who would support a deer management program. "We want to know how people feel," he said. If an overwhelming number do not want hunting, he will consider that, he said. He also notes that some solutions either for tick management or deer management are costly. Again with the population in mind, he said, "The public is not going to go for that."
Talk of sharpshooting, possibly one of the most expensive scenarios, and controlled hunts were among a host of ways to interrupt disease transmission from ticks to residents, while reducing damage done to the environment and forests by deer.
The committee has discussed methods for reducing tick habitat, educating residents about tick-bite prevention, landscape methods, motor vehicle accident awareness, environmental damage, use of devices to administer pesticides combating ticks, and more.
Dr Grossman hopes the public will be "fully aware of issues when the committee renders a decision.
Residents who would like more information form an expert source can attend a talk by Connecticut State Entomologist Dr. Kirby Stafford, who will discuss the origins and nature of Lyme disease and means to prevent its infectious spread to humans in a lecture on Thursday, March 18, at Western Connecticut State University. "Fight the Bite: Ticks and Lyme Disease," presented as part of the WestConn "Science at Night" lecture series, will be at 7 p.m. in Room 125 of the Science Building on the university's Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. A reception with light refreshments will be held in the Science Building Atrium following the lecture. Admission will be free and the public is invited to attend.