The Westchester County Department of Health today announced that ground spraying plans for tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 6, have been postponed until Friday, September 8, due to anticipated cold weather. Pesticide application at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit is less effective. The following communities are now scheduled to be sprayed on Friday, September 8, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.: Somers, Yorktown, and New Castle.

The communities of Croton-on-Hudson, Ossining Town and Ossining Village are also scheduled to be sprayed on Friday, September 8, because a new positive blue jay has been identified from Ossining.

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

The Westchester County Department of Health today also announced plans to re-spray the following communities on Thursday, September 7, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.: White Plains, Greenburgh (unincorporated portions), Village of Elmsford, Scarsdale, Harrison, Mamaroneck Town (unincorporated portion), New Rochelle and Eastchester. This would be the second application for these communities which were sprayed Friday, September 1.

In addition to the Ossining blue jay, four other birds have tested positive for West Nile virus: a crow in White Plains, a crow in Tarrytown, a crow in Rye Brook and a crow in Yonkers, the Westchester County Department of Health has been notified. No additional communities need to be sprayed as a result of the crows found in White Plains and Tarrytown because those communities have recently been sprayed or will be sprayed this week. Plans in response to the positive crows found in Rye Brook and Yonkers will be announced tomorrow.

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.

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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