news release
ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN (914) 995-2932

MARY LANDRIGAN (914) 813-5013

(914) 813-5000 (After Hours)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2003

SPRING S.T.I.N.G. EVENTS ARE A HUGE SUCCESS TO COMBAT WEST NILE VIRUS Larvicide Application Program Complete

The Westchester County Department of Health today announced the success of two initiatives designed to combat West Nile virus; the Annual Spring S.T.I.N.G. events which collected old tires from residents for recycling and the completion of its larvicide application program. The initiatives are particularly important as the County enters peak season for West Nile virus in August and September.

Over 1,500 old tires were collected during the two Spring S.T.I.N.G. weekends in conjunction with the County’s Household Clean-Up Days. Larvicide briquettes were applied to catch basins throughout the County to prevent mosquito larvae in the catch basins from developing into adult mosquitoes that are capable of spreading West Nile virus to humans.

“I applaud the residents of Westchester who took on the task of recycling old tires,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “Spring S.T.I.N.G. has been an annual event for the past three years and each year I continue to be impressed with the enthusiasm of our residents to do their part in protecting the public health.”

Beginning in mid-May, certified technicians from the Westchester County Department of Health began applying briquettes of the larvicide Altosid XR (methoprene) into County, State, and municipal catch basins on May 13. Of the 65,570 catch basins countywide, a total of 57,570 were treated with larvicide. The remaining 10,000 were inspected but not treated for reasons such as the catch basin being void of a sump and having no place for water to collect; the sump or the entire catch basin being filled with sediment so water could not accumulate; or other similar factors that made the catch basin an unfit mosquito breeding ground. Orange

dots have been marked on all catch basins to identify which have been treated and which have not. One orange

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Spring S.T.I.N.G. Success P.2

dot indicates that the catch basin has been treated. Two orange dots signify that no treatment was necessary for that particular basin.

“While the two Spring S.T.I.N.G. weekends were a tremendous success in the collection of so many potential mosquito breeding grounds found in old tires, I would like to remind residents that there are many year-round outlets for residents to recycle tires in Westchester County,” said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health. “Without the constant vigilance of our residents and the removal of sources of standing water in our neighborhoods, the control of West Nile virus would be much more difficult.” Residents can call the County’s Household Recycling Hotline at (914) 813-5420 or visit the Health Department’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health/WestNile.htm for a complete list of year-round tire recycling centers.

The Health Department also offers the following suggestions for eliminating mosquito breeding grounds from around private homes and property:

· Get rid of all water holding containers, especially old tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles.

· Cover all outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.

· Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors.

· Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.

· Drain the water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice weekly.

· Sweep driveways after it rains so that they are free of puddles.

For additional information on West Nile virus, call the Public Health Information Line at (914) 813-5609, or visit its website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

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