Dear Editor,
Beyond latrines, one of the main contributions of the Works Projects Administration (WPA) to health in Watonga relates to the drainage systems installed. During 1938 and 1939, as part of the $12,000 annual roads, drainage and sidewalks projects, the WPA installed some 50 culverts to assist in drainage. Beyond the culverts, many of which are still in use today and easily identified by the WPA stamp, the 38 to 40 parttime workers constructed a drainage canal. Still in use today, the canals begin at the post office, run east and west along the south side of First Street. The west canal runs six blocks, under the railroad and highway 8 before depositing storm drainage in a natural waterway. The east canal begins at Burford and runs toward the railroad tracks. These canals, beautifully constructed of hand laid stone, carry storm water from the northern part of town southward and out of town before it can pool and provide a place for mosquitoes to breed. With the growth of Watonga northward past 11th street, water now backs up at the post office with heavy rains, and additional drainage may be needed.
Reading the Republican from 193639 at the Watonga Public Library, it is evident that malaria was still a problem in Oklahoma, and in fact across the eastern half of the U.S. to the Rocky Mountains. The traveling display of the state health department shown in Watonga in 1939 emphasized malaria, rabies, vaccine preventable diseases, and food and water safety.
Malaria has been eliminated from the U.S., but mosquitoborne diseases continue. We know the historic threat of yellow fever, dengue, St. Louis encephalitis and equine encephalitis viruses in the U.S., and starting 20 years ago, West Nile virus transmitted by mosquitoes. We had a close call with Zika virus with almost 6,000 symptomatic cases in the U.S., mostly imported, but transmitted in Texas and Florida in 20162017. As in 1936 when a major outbreak of equine encephalitis hit Blaine County killing a number of horses and infecting some people, physicians, veterinarians and sanitation engineers must continue to work together.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who planned, budgeted, and constructed infrastructure 80 years ago in Watonga that continues to serve the health of our populations today.
Dr. Joe Bryan
Watonga