Following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) study showing that mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus had spread from Flushing to surrounding neighborhoods, New York Hospital Queens is quoting federal health officials as calling 2007 the “worst [West Nile] virus season in years.”
In response to health concerns, DOHMH announced on Monday, Aug 6 that it would spray “adulticide” by truck, in parts of College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Linden Hill, Flushing and Murray Hill as early as Wednesday night, August 8, weather permitting, or as soon as possible after that date.
“Adulticide” is designed to kill adult mosquitoes, and is delivered by spraying from trucks in both residential and non-residential areas. The agent being used is marketed under the trade-name “Anvil 10+10” and DOHMH has declared that there are “no significant risks of adverse impact to human health associated with the proper use of this product.”
The DOHMH has been continuously monitoring mosquito populations for evidence of West Nile. One infected mosquito was found in a sample taken from the 11356 zip code in College Point, during early July.
In response to that discovery, the city used helicopters to apply “larvicide” pellets over non-residential wetland areas between College Point and Douglaston. The pellets are supposed to kill the immature mosquito larvae before they emerge as adults from the pools of standing water where mosquitoes breed.
However, the latest report, released on August 1, shows that West Nile infected mosquitoes were found in 10 samples, from zip codes 11356, 11357 and 11360. This area includes Whitestone, Malba and Bay Terrace.
The area to be sprayed extends beyond the areas where the infected mosquitoes were first discovered. The target area extends from Powell’s Cove in the north and 123rd Street/College Point Boulevard in the west to Sanford Avenue in the south and as far as Memorial Field at 150th Street in Flushing.
Near the center of the spray area lies abandoned Flushing Airport, which has long been a prime mosquito breeding ground. Because rainwater collects on top of the runway, which has been slowly sinking into the surrounding wetlands for years, this creates a large, shallow, stagnant pond - made to order for a mosquito hatchery.
Nevertheless, DOHMH advised that people in areas where spraying is scheduled take precautions to reduce their exposure to the chemicals. They suggest that people, especially those with respiratory problems:
Despite the fact that there is no vaccine or cure for West Nile virus, most people have little to fear, according to Dr. James Rahal, director of the Infectious Diseases Section of New York Hospital Queens and Professor of Medicine at Cornell University’s Weill College of Medicine.
“West Nile is actually pretty benign,” he explained to The Queens Courier. “Most people don’t even know they have it.”
It seems that 4 out of 5 cases of West Nile are “asymptomatic,” according to Rahal - meaning the sufferer shows no symptoms - “other than cold-like symptoms: tiredness, aches and fever” he said.
However, Rahal cautioned, “If you get a bad case, it’s very bad.” Of 150 West Nile virus victims, 30 show symptoms, and of the 30, one would have a serious case, he suggested.
“It’s the very young, the very old and those who have compromised immune systems who are in the most danger,” he said.
“A serious case is when the virus gets into the nervous system - the spine or brain,” Rahal said. “Then it becomes meningitis or encephalitis,” he warned.
