DOHMH To Spray 3 Queens Neighborhoods

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will apply larvicide for mosquito control by helicopter to selected marsh and other non-residential areas of Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx. Weather permitting, larvicide will be applied on Wednesday, August 23 through Friday, August 25 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day. If weather does not permit, larviciding will begin the morning of Thursday, August 24 or the next possible day. While three days are allotted for this activity, the application may be completed in less time.

Due to their size and the difficulty in reaching them by ground vehicles, the areas listed will be treated with larvicide from a low-flying helicopter. In Queens, marsh areas inside Alley Pond Park bounded by 20th Avenue to the north, 130th Avenue and Ulmer Street to the west, Ulmer Street and 28th Street to the south and the Whitestone Expressway to the east in the neighborhoods of Douglaston and Oakland Gardens in ZIP Codes 11361 and 11363; marsh areas at the abandoned Flushing Airport in the neighborhoods of Linden Hill and the College Point Industrial Park, and marsh areas in Dubos Point and Edgemere Park bounded by Norton Basin to the east, Mott Point to the north, Grass Hassock Channel to the west and Beach 65th Street, Decosta Avenue and Almeda Avenue to the south in Edgemere and Somerville encompassing ZIP Codes 11691 and 11692 will be treated.

VectoBac CG, a natural bacterial agent, will be used for this aerial application. VectoBac will also be used throughout the mosquito season to treat mosquito breeding sites. Additional surveillance activity is currently being conducted to determine whether further application of larvicide in these areas will be necessary.

To reduce exposure to mosquitoes, the DOHMH recommends:

 Repair or replace all screens that have tears and holes.

 Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property:

 Dispose of containers that can collect standing water.

 Make sure roof gutters drain properly and rooftops are free of standing water.

 Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers.

 Vases are prohibited in cemeteries during West Nile virus season.

 Use mosquito repellent when outdoors in areas where mosquitoes are active. Use repellents containing the active ingredients deet, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus that are approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York state for protection against biting mosquitoes. Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children younger than three. Always read the repellent's label and follow instructions for use.

To report dead birds or standing water, or for more information about West Nile virus, call 311 or visit http://www.nyc.gov/health/wnv.