Chloe Dupuy: Bee-pocalypse: What lessons did we learn from Zika spraying?

Bee-pocalypse: What lessons did we learn from Zika spraying?

The Zika virus has become a growing issue for the past couple of months. However, some believe that they are using the wrong methods to control the outbreak. South Carolina beekeeper Juanita Stanley lost more than 3 million need last Saturday to a sudden aerial spray for Zika carrying mosquitos in the the small town of Summerville. She lost her entire livelihood to the poor judgement of the mosquito control. While they usually sprayed at night by truck when the bee keepers could more easily protect their bees, this time they sprayed at sunrise and did so aerially, killing millions of bees in one swoop. Juanita was angered at the officials' "stupidity and ignorance". She believes the authorities overreacted because out of the small number of 4 people affected with the Zika virus, only  1 contracted it in the country. "Someone has a virus that they didn't get here, but what if, someday, maybe, they might?" Stanley asked. "Let's just go kill everything in case someone might get it? Where is the logic in that?" Stanley demanded outraged. She still is fighting for justice for her bees and for other farmers and beekeepers in her area.

This article was written by CNN journalist Sandee LaMotte on Friday, September 2. While the article seems very unbiased, because of the Zika virus traveling around, I believe the author is in favor of Stanley and her bees, despite the virus and it's threats. Although I did not previously know much on the Zika virus and it's mosquitos, what I did know helped me interpret that the officials who sprayed the town overreacted and shouldn't have sprayed without Stanley's consent or knowledge. This article seemed to have left a negative influence on the audience in regards to consent and safety of animals because of the author's word choices and thoughts on the matter. This article was written to inform others of the outrageous behavior of the mosquito controllers while also informing the audience of Zika and people who had contracted it. This article is important because it warns others of happenings involving Zika in the United States. I can relate this to the outbreak of the West Nile Virus that was connected to mosquitoes a few years ago but also to the Ebola virus because of the complete panic that it brought to citizens and how the authorities sometimes overreacted in trying to put a stop to the hysteria of the people.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/02/health/zika-bee-spraying-lessons/index.html