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

CONTACT     SUSAN TOLCHIN                                                    (914) 285-2932

                        DONNA GREENE                                                    (914) 285-2935

VALERIE GOLDSTEIN (Health)                            (914) 637-4715

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                August 10, 2000

 

GROUND SPRAYING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AUG. 14

IN MOUNT VERNON, PELHAM MANOR AND PELHAM VILLAGE

 

Five More Mosquito Pools and One More Bird Test Positive for West Nile Virus

 

The Westchester County Department of Health has been notified by the New York State Department of Health that five additional pools of mosquitoes and one additional bird have tested positive for West Nile virus.  The infected mosquitoes were:  one pool in the Hartsdale section of Greenburgh and two pools each in Yonkers and Eastchester. The infected bird is a sparrow from Yonkers. 

The infected mosquito pools and the infected bird were submitted for testing prior to ground spraying operations that have already been conducted in those communities. Therefore, these communities do not need to be resprayed at this time.

However, communities that were never sprayed  but are within the two-mile radius of the sites where either infected birds or mosquitoes were found will be sprayed  for the first time on Monday, Aug. 14, beginning at 11:30 p.m. and continuing until 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 15.  They are: Mount Vernon, Pelham Village and Pelham Manor.  In keeping with the proper use of the pesticide Anvil, they will have to be resprayed at a later date.

All County ground spraying operations are subject to the weather and to the availability of specially-equipped spraying vehicles from the contractor. The County will be ground spraying with Anvil, a synthetic pyrethroid that is one of the least toxic pesticides available. The ingredients in Anvil are commonly used and found in products that combat fleas and ticks on pets.  When Anvil is used to combat West Nile virus, it is used in very low concentrations.  Most people will not experience any irritating effects so long as they are not normally sensitive to pesticides, plant pollen, hairspray, petroleum solvents or household cleaning products.

                                                                                                          

Westchester County Commissioner of Health Dr. Joshua Lipsman is urging all residents to be vigilant about taking personal protection measures and to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites around their homes.  Personal mosquito protection measures include wearing shoes, socks, long pants and a long sleeved shirt so that a minimal amount of skin is exposed and vulnerable to mosquito bites, and considering the use of an insect repellent containing DEET according to label directions.

Residents are also urged to intensify their efforts to eliminate possible mosquito-breeding sites around their homes. “The heavy amounts of rainfall we received over the past few weeks has likely created new sources of standing water. Getting rid of standing water is especially important during August, which is one of the peak breeding times for the mosquito,” said Dr. Lipsman.

  Residents are asked to re-inspect areas around their homes to remove water from cans, jars, old tires, clogged roof gutters, yard decorations, or any other outdoor containers; remove any standing water from the basement; clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs regularly; make sure that rainwater does not collect on pool, sauna or hot tub covers; and keep outdoor trash containers covered so that rainwater will not collect inside them and filling in hollow tree stumps and rot holes that hold water with either sand or concrete.

Residents are also encouraged to report potential mosquito breeding sites, as well as dead birds, to the Westchester County Department of Health by calling the West Nile Virus Information Line at (914) 637-2420.  Residents can also call the Information line for the most recent information on West Nile virus, or they can visit the Health Department’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

“While the vast majority of people who are infected with West Nile virus have either no symptoms, or mild symptoms, the State Health Department advises that people who are most susceptible to the virus should try to avoid the outdoors when mosquitoes are most active and feeding. This includes older residents, young children, those with chronic illness or those taking medications that impair the immune system. These groups, especially, should take personal protection measures to reduce the risk of infection, the State Health Commissioner reports.

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