West Nile Virus: 9 More Brooklyn Neighborhoods to Be Sprayed With Pesticides

See also: What to Do If You Get Sprayed By West Nile Pesticides.

The NYC Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday that nine more Brooklyn neighborhoods would be sprayed with a pesticide that kills mosquitoes possibly carrying the West Nile virus.

“To reduce mosquito activity and the risk of West Nile virus, the Health Department will spray pesticide from trucks in parts of Brooklyn,” says the DOH.

The spraying is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning.

In case of bad weather, the spray trucks will instead come through on Thursday, Sept. 10, during the same hours.

Above is a map of the Wednesday-night spray area. (Click the second thumbnail on top of the photo of the mosquito.)

Affected locations are also listed below.

• Parts of Crown Heights, Greenwood Heights, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Heights, Ditmas Park, Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. (Parts of 11215, 11217, 11218, 11219, 11220, 11225, 11226, 11232, 11238.) Bordered by Atlantic Avenue, Carlton Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Park West, 15th Street and 5th Avenue to the north; 5th Avenue and 52nd Street to the west; Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue to the south; Flatbush Avenue and Franklin Avenue to the east.

To prevent mosquitoes from spreading the West Nile virus during hot summer months, the DOH typically treats standing-water sites with ”non-chemical larvicides” to kill larvae-stage mosquitoes — as well as a small amount of chemical pesticides, to kill adults.

Health officials also spray some neighborhood streets with aerial doses of Anvil 10+10, a synthetic pesticide. (The treatment planned for Brooklyn this Wednesday.)

So far this summer, there have been 24 rounds of neighborhood sprays throughout New York City. This will be only the second in Brooklyn.

Another map released by the DOH on Sept. 3 (second thumbnail, above) shows all the Brooklyn zip codes where “West Nile virus activity” has been detected: 11201, 11206, 11207, 11208, 11214, 11215, 11218, 11228, 11229, 11232, 11234, 11236, 11238.

The DOH sometimes announces sprayings only a day or two in advance, so keep your eye on the summer spray schedule (or Patch!) for the latest.

Here’s what the DOH recommends you do during a spraying, “to minimize direct exposure”:

• Whenever possible, stay indoors during spraying. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are encouraged to stay inside during spraying since direct exposure could worsen these conditions.
• Air conditioners may remain on, however, if you wish to reduce the possibility of indoor exposure to pesticides, set the air conditioner vent to the closed position, or choose the re-circulate function.
• Remove children’s toys, outdoor equipment, and clothes from outdoor areas during spraying. If outdoor equipment and toys are exposed to pesticides, wash them with soap and water before using again.
• Wash skin and clothing exposed to pesticides with soap and water. Always wash your produce thoroughly with water before cooking or eating.

West Nile season in New York City typically lasts from July through October.

In August, the DOH announced that a male Brooklyn resident over the age of 60 had been diagnosed with West Nile virus — the first confirmed case in the city this summer.

The man tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus after he was ”hospitalized with viral meningitis,” the DOH said.

He was treated and discharged soon after. Since then, two more cases have been reported in NYC: one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.

Most people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms, says the DOH. Those who do, however, often complain of fever, headache, fatigue and body aches. Some also develop rashes or swollen lymph glands.

“Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks,” says the DOH.

According to the New York Times, symptoms sometimes take two weeks to develop — ”but they may then be rapid and overwhelming.”