news release
ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive  SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

CONTACT:    SUSAN TOLCHIN                                                                            (914) 285-2932

                        DONNA GREENE                                                                            (914) 285-2935

MARY LANDRIGAN (Health Department)                                   (914) 637-4715

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                July 20, 2000

 

TEN WESTCHESTER COMMUNITIES SCHEDULED TO BE SPRAYED FOR MOSQUITOES FRIDAY NIGHT

Revised County Schedule Dependent on Good Weather

 

Ten Westchester communities previously targeted for ground-fogging to prevent the spread of the West Nile virus will be sprayed Friday night, weather-permitting, County Executive Andy Spano announced today.

These communities are: New Rochelle, Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Mamaroneck Town, Scarsdale, Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge, Lewisboro and Bedford. The spraying will take place between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.

As was previously announced, ground spraying is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, between 11:30 p.m.  and 4:30 a.m. in four other Westchester communities. They are: North Castle, New Castle, Mount Pleasant and Pleasantville.

The 14 communities were targeted for ground spraying of the pesticide Anvil because they are within a two-mile radius of the sites where infected mosquitoes and infected dead birds have been found.

 The ground spraying will be conducted by trucks that are equipped with foggers. The spray is released in a fog that can reach 300 feet from the truck. Municipal officials will be arranging for local police to escort the ground spraying crews during application to ensure that all neighborhoods are adequately covered.

Spano stressed that the spraying is a precautionary step to help prevent the spread of the virus. There are no known human cases of the virus this year.

In case of heavy rain Friday night, the spraying could be delayed. If that happens, the County will announce in advance when that spraying would be rescheduled for.

The County will be using the pesticide Anvil during ground spraying, which is one of the least toxic products available for this purpose. After-dark ground spraying minimize the exposure to area residents.

The proper use of Anvil requires a second application. Communities will be notified when that might occur.

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