State investigates crop spraying after illnesses reported

The Missouri Department of Agriculture Bureau of Pesticide Control is investigating after two members of the National Guard and a resident were sickened by spray from a crop duster in northeast Butler County.

Because the investigation is ongoing, only limited details on the two separate incidents were available.

The names of the victims were not included in the report and the individual or company performing the crop dusting was listed as unknown.

In the first incident that occurred in the morning hours of April 12, two members of the Missouri National Guard were working on a culvert pipe in the Peppermint Creek area when they reported being contaminated by spray from a crop duster.

The men reported that in a short time they were affected by flu-like symptoms -- pain in joints, headaches, blurred vision and cold sweats.

A month later, between 10 a.m. and noon May 12, a caller reported a plane flying over and dumping "poison" around a residence.

The resident also reported flu-like symptoms -- nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The person reported the health of plants and pets has been in decline since the incident.

The U.S. Forest Service also has confirmed it is looking into the incident for any damage to wildlife and foliage.