The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Advisory recently in response to increased reports of illness associated with products containing the pesticide ivermectin. Ivermectin is an active ingredient that is typically used to treat internal animal parasites such as roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites, and external parasites such as head lice. It is an anti-parasitic pesticide not an anti-viral. The FDA has not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19.

The CDC health advisory states “Veterinary formulations intended for use in large animals such as horses, sheep, and cattle (e.g., “sheep drench,” injection formulations, and “pour-on” products for cattle) can be highly concentrated and result in overdoses when used by humans. Animal products may also contain inactive ingredients that have not been evaluated for use in humans. People who take inappropriately high doses of ivermectin above FDA-recommended dosing may experience toxic effects.”

Incorrect use of any pesticide can lead to injury, negative health impacts, or severe illness. Be sure to always read and understand the label when using pesticides and only use them where specified on the label. As a reminder, disinfectants are pesticides too, and should be used properly to minimize health risks.

Part of the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program's mission is to provide pesticide information to residents of California to protect human health and the environment. We address public health issues as they relate to pests of homes, people, pets, structures, and plants. Part of our educational efforts in this area is on pesticide use and safety. We do not and cannot comment on medically advised prescriptions or treatment for human diseases and ailments such as influenza, measles, asthma, COVID-19, or any other contagious diseases. However, it is within our charge to share information about registered pesticides, their safe use, and consequences to human health.

Visit our website for more information on pesticides in homes and landscapes. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing serious illness due to pesticide exposure, contact the Poison Control hotline at 800-222-1222.

March 18-24 was National Poison Prevention Week. While our blog post may be tardy, it's never too late to raise awareness about the risks associated with using pesticides and how to protect yourself and your family from accidental poisoning.

Pesticides are any substance used to kill, repel, or deter unwanted organisms, including insects, spiders, weeds, plant diseases, or animal pests such as rodents. In most situations, effective nonchemical options exist to control pests. However, if you decide to use a pesticide, please consider the following tips:

• Consider using pesticides in bait stations and gels instead of sprays to reduce pesticide exposure.
• Learn about the potential hazards of a pesticide on the UC IPM Pesticide Active Ingredients Database.
• Follow the instructions on the pesticide label. The label contains important information about safety and hazards.
• Wear personal protective equipment such as goggles, close-toed shoes, and chemical-resistant gloves when using any type of pesticide, including weed killers (herbicides).
• Remove children, their toys, and pets from an area before applying any pesticides, even organic or "natural" ones.
• Never store pesticides in food or drink containers. Frequent cases of pesticide poisoning involve children or adults who drink from these containers and become sick or die.
• Seal pesticide containers tightly after use.
• Store pesticides in a locked cabinet away from children.
• Post the Poison Control Centers' national helpline number, 1-800-222-1222.

Read more about using, storing, and disposing of pesticides safely in Pest Notes: Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides in the Home and Landscape. You can also find a variety of other sources of pesticide information for both home users and professional pesticide applicators on the UC IPM Pesticide Information pages.

For information about nonchemical options for managing many different types of pests, see the UC IPM website covering home, garden, turf and landscape pests.

Saharan mustard is originally from the Mediterranean. It was introduced to California where it became a weed, particularly in the dryer parts of the state. Livestock can be poisoned by Saharan mustard if they are kept in fields that have little else to eat but Saharan mustard. Signs of toxicity include “colic, diarrhea, excessive salivation, and thyroid enlargement” (DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. 2013). Saharan mustard can also increase fire hazard.

Saharan mustard has been documented in eastern San Benito County on Panoche Road; in western Fresno County; in Monterey County at Fort Hunter Liggett; and in San Luis Obispo County it is concentrated near Morrow Bay and north of Santa Maria, but has been identified elsewhere as well. Below is an image from the CalFlora website showing documented locations of Saharan Mustard. For the interactive version of the map, click here to go to CalFlora then you can click on individual observations to get more detailed information.

The plants bloom from January to June (Ihsan 2012). It is not known how long the seeds can live in the soil, but scientists think they can survive for many years.

Although Saharan mustard's distribution is relatively limited in San Benito County, it appears to be spreading.  The San Benito Weed Management Area is hoping to minimize the spread of this plant and encourages people to control it, especially when there are just a few individual plants. It's much easier to control a small infestation before it gets out of hand. 

If you see this plant please let me know. You can email me at drorao@ucanr.edu or call me at 831-637-5346 x14. If you have a plant that looks like Saharan mustard, but you're not sure if that's what it is, you can bring (or mail) the plant to my office and I can identify it for you.  My office is located at 3228 Southside Road, Hollister, CA 95023, right next to the Ag Commissioner's office. 

For more information about Saharan mustard and how to control it click here for the UC Weed Report.

All information for this article comes from DiTomaso, J.M., G.B.Kyser et al. (2013), unless otherwise noted.

References

CalFlora. 2018. Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation,
with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2018. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/ (Accessed: Feb. 12, 2018).

DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. 2013.Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United
States. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. 544 pp. http://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_B/Brassica_tournefortii.pdf accessed February 12, 2018.

Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz. 2012. Brassica tournefortii, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=16085, accessed on February 12, 2018.

 

Lit candles, sparkle lights, pine boughs, flowers and festive plants; all things we may add to our homes as the days darken and we celebrate the holiday season.  It is fun stuff but possibly dangerous too.   The American Veterinary Medical Association cautions that “risky temptations” like these could be dangerous to pets.  Small children could be affected as well.  

Some flowers and festive plants that can be dangerous, poisonous, or just troublesome include amaryllis, mistletoe, pine, holly berries, balsam, cedar, lilies and daffodils.    They are so beautiful at the holidays, just make sure they are out of reach of both pets and small children and collect any pieces that fall to the floor.   Many plants we purchase may have also been treated with pesticides that can cause problems if eaten.

If you have a live tree don't add anything to the water as that can be dangerous to pets if they can manage to drink the water.  It can also develop bacteria and mold that could make a pet ill. 

Christmas trees can be an irresistible temptation to some cats who love to climb, shake, eat tinsel, break ornaments, well you get the idea; the Internet is full of cats & dogs creating their own fun with our decorations.   If your furry friends tend towards holiday mayhem consider securing the tree to a post, doorway or the ceiling.  Fishing line is strong and pretty unobtrusive for this task. 

When you've gotten all your holiday chores done, food planned and decorations up; I hope you can also put up your feet for a bit. Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

 

In Case of Emergency:

• Poison Helpline:  (800) 222-1222
• ASPCA Poison Control Helpline:  (888) 426-4435