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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
MARY LANDRIGAN
(914) 637-4715
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2000
AUGUST 30 GROUND SPRAYING OPERATION COMPLETED
Ground Spraying Schedule Reconfirmed for Friday, September 1
Two More Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus; Spray Schedule Set for
September 5
Ground
spraying for adult mosquitoes was completed last night, Wednesday, August 30, in the
communities of: Sleepy Hollow,
Tarrytown, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasantville and Irvington.
Westchester
County today reconfirmed ground spraying plans for tomorrow, Friday, September 1, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.,
in the communities of: White
Plains, Greenburgh (unincorporated portions), Village of Elmsford, Scarsdale,
Harrison, Mamaroneck Town (unincorporated portion), New Rochelle and
Eastchester. In the
event that conditions do not permit the spraying of these communities to be
completed on Friday, September 1, spraying is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday,
September 5. A repeat
application of the pesticide Anvil is required for optimal efficacy, so these
communities will also need to be re-sprayed at a later date.
The
Westchester County Department of Health was notified by the New York State
Department of Health today that two more birds have tested positive for West
Nile virus. The two new positive
birds are a crow from White Plains and a crow from Somers.
No additional communities need to be sprayed as a result of the new
positive crow from White Plains because it is within the boundaries of the
communities listed above. Ground
spraying as a result of the new positive crow
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.
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
primary ingredient in Anvil is 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 Joshua
Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H. is urging all residents to be vigilant about taking
personal protection measures and eliminating 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
have likely created new sources of standing water.
Getting rid of standing water is especially important during September,
a peak breeding time for the mosquito,” said Dr. Lipsman.
-more-
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 and fill hollow tree stumps
and rot holes that hold water with either sand or concrete.
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 since older people are the group most
susceptible to serious complications from the virus, that they should try to
avoid outdoor areas when and where mosquitoes are most active and feeding.
Older people, in particular, should also take personal protection
measures to reduce their risk of infection, which includes wearing protective
clothing and using insect repellent containing DEET.
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 may 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.
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