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news
release |
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ANDREW J.
SPANO, Westchester County Executive JOSHUA
LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health SUSAN TOLCHIN,
Director of Communications |
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CONTACT:
SUSAN TOLCHIN
(914) 285-2932
VALERIE GOLDSTEIN
(914) 637-4715
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2000
COUNTY RECONFIRMS GROUND SPRAYING SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY
NIGHT, AUG. 14
One Sentinel Chicken from Somers Tests Positive for West Nile Virus
The
Westchester County Department of Health was notified by the New York State
Department of Health that one of its sentinel chickens has tested positive for
West Nile virus. The chicken was
in Somers and was infected prior to
ground spraying operations that were conducted in that area.
Therefore, Somers and communities within a two-mile radius do not need
to be re-sprayed at this time.
Westchester
County today reconfirmed that ground spraying for adult mosquitoes is
scheduled for Monday, August 14,
beginning at 11:30 p.m. and continuing until 4:30 a.m. in Mount
Vernon, Pelham Village and Pelham
Manor. A repeat application
of the pesticide Anvil is required for optimal efficacy, so these communities
will be re-sprayed 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.
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