City Will Spray Pesticides Across Brooklyn To Fight West Nile Virus

BROOKLYN, NY — The New York City Health Department will send trucks through parts of Brooklyn starting Tuesday to douse the borough in pesticides aimed at killing mosquitos carrying West Nile virus.

The trucks are scheduled to roll out Tuesday, August 15, starting at 9 p.m., weather permitting, and spray through 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The trucks will spray in areas that "have met sufficient criteria – an increase in West Nile virus activity as well as high numbers of Culex mosquitoes that have been known to transmit West Nile virus," a Health Department notice said.

According to the city, affected neighborhoods include parts of Brownsville, City Line, Crown Heights, Ditmas Park, East New York, Farragut, Greenwood Heights, Kensington, New Lots, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, Remsen Village, Rugby, Spring Creek, Starrett City, Weeksville, Windsor Terrace and Wingate.

Here's a full map of the spray zone:

While the spray "poses no significant risks to human health," the city does recommend people take some steps to minimize exposure to it.

Per city guidelines, that includes:

• Whenever possible, stay indoors during spraying. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are encouraged to stay inside 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.

And to keep mosquitos at bay, the city also recommends using proper repellant, making sure windows have screens, staying away from standing water, making sure roof gutters are properly cleaned and chlorinating swimming pools.

For more information, click here.

(Mosquito, Aedes_Albopictus; Centers for Disease Control photo)