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) 285-2932

                        MARY LANDRIGAN                                                                      (914) 637-4715

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                August 15, 2000

 

AUG. 14 GROUND SPRAYING OPERATION COMPLETED

Additional Communities Scheduled for Spraying on Wednesday, Aug. 16

Another West Nile infected crow found in Yonkers

 

Ground spraying for adult mosquitoes was completed last night, Monday, August 14, in the communities of Mount Vernon, Pelham Village and Pelham Manor.  On Wednesday, August 16, beginning at 11:30 pm and continuing until 4:30 a.m., the communities of Rye Brook and Port Chester are scheduled to be sprayed for adult mosquitoes. 

 

In the event that conditions do not permit the spraying of Rye Brook and Port Chester to be completed on Wednesday, August 16, spraying is scheduled to be completed on Friday, August 18. 

 

Even if it is raining on a night scheduled for pesticide application, residents in the communities being sprayed are advised to take precautions to avoid exposure to the pesticide.  These precautions include closing their windows, turning air conditioners off or setting them to re-circulate indoor air during the times of spraying.  Although heavy rains may be occurring during some parts of the spray time, it may still be possible for the spraying contractors to complete their spraying during periods when the rain has diminished.

 

A repeat application of the pesticide Anvil is required for optimal efficacy, so all of the communities mentioned above will need to be re-sprayed at a later date.

The Westchester County Department of Health was notified today by the New York State Health Department that a dead  crow found in Yonkers on 7/30 has tested positive for West Nile virus.  No additional spraying for mosquitoes is necessary at this time, since Yonkers was sprayed on August 1, 2000.

 

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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