RSS Feed
|
|
|||||
|
3 Queens Neighborhoods To Be Sprayed For Mosquitoes To control mosquitoes, the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will apply larvicide by helicopter to marsh and other non-residential areas of Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx. Weather permitting, the larvicide will be applied on Thursday, August 2, Friday, August 3, and Monday, August 6 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. In case of bad weather, the Health Department will begin the morning of Friday, August 3 or the next possible day. While three days are allotted for this activity, the application may be completed in less time. The Queens neighborhoods that nclude marshland and other non-residential areas in which aerial larviciding will take place are Douglaaston/Oakland Gardens, Linden Hill/College Point and Edgemere/Somerville. Aerial larviciding controls mosquitoes through dropping natural bacterial pellets by helicopter to marshes and other large natural areas to kill mosquito larvae before they grow into adult mosquitoes. This method does not take place in the residential areas of New York City. The Health Department kills adult mosquitoes by spraying a liquid insecticide from trucks. Truck spraying can take place in residential or non-residential areas. No adulticidings are scheduled at this time. VectoBac CG and/or VectoLex CG, both natural bacterial agents, will be used for this application. These larvicides 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. During West Nile Virus season, New Yorkers can report dead birds or standing water online at www.nyc.gov/health/wnv. For more information about West Nile Virus, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/health/wnv. The areas to be treated are marshy, natural areas, which are common breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Due to their size and difficulty to reach by ground vehicles, these areas will be treated with larvicide from a low-flying helicopter. The spraying is necessary because for the first time this season, the Health Department has detected West Nile Virus in New York City mosquitoes. No human cases have been reported in New York City this year, but people have been stricken in 19 states. The Health Department reported last Friday that a pool of mosquitoes collected in Flushing has tested positive for the virus. The Health Department has increased mosquito surveillance and mosquito larvae control efforts in the affected area. "West Nile Virus has arrived in New York City, so protect yourself and your family," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner, said. "Wear insect repellent when you go outside and get rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed. Older people are especially vulnerable and should make an effort to avoid mosquitoes." West Nile Virus can cause encephalitis, a serious inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and can also cause a more moderate flu-like illness with headache, fever and extreme fatigue. For more information about West Nile Virus, and how to avoid it, visit the Health Department website at www.nyc.gov/health or call 311. If you think you have symptoms of West Nile Virus, see your doctor right away. To reduce exposure to mosquitoes: • Use an approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. (Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should NOT be used on children younger than three.) Use these products according to manufacturers' instructions. • Make sure windows have screens, and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes. • Eliminate any standing water from your property, and dispose of containers that can collect water. Standing water is a violation of the New York City Health Code. • Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly. • 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. • Report dead birds or standing water by calling 311 or visiting www.nyc.gov/health/wnv.
The city Health Department monitors for West Nile Virus and applies pesticides as needed throughout the summer. The city's 2007 Comprehensive Mosquito Surveillance and Control Plan can be found online at http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/w nv/wnvplan2007.pdf. |
for larger version       |
||||
