Queens will receive another round of West Nile spraying after news last week of two New Yorkers succumbing to the disease.
Officials confirmed two deaths — one each in Nassau and Onondaga — stemming from West Nile last week.
Parts of six Queens neighborhoods will be sprayed beginning at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28 and lasting until 6 a.m. the next morning.
There have been six cases of the illness in New York City — two in Queens — and 80 pools of standing water have tested positive for West Nile in the borough.
The 1118 West Nile cases in the country reported this year is the highest number of cases reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the third week in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999.
“As we continue to partner with local health departments to help reduce the public’s risk of exposure and to identify mosquito-borne illness sources, it is essential that people take precautions to avoid potentially serious illnesses, such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis,” said State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah.
Parts of Beechhurst, College Point, Flushing, Linden Hill, Malba and Whitestone will receive the spraying this week.
The area is bounded by the East River to the north; Flushing Bay to the west; 32nd Avenue, 146th Street and Willets Point Boulevard to the south; and 154th Street to the east.
The pesticide being used, Anvil 10 + 10, poses no health risks when used properly, but the Health Department recommends that people take the following precautions to minimize direct exposure:
• Whenever possible, stay indoors during spraying. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are encouraged to stay inside during spraying since direct exposure could worsen these conditions.
• Air conditioners may remain on, however, if you wish to reduce the possibility of indoor exposure to pesticides, set the air conditioner vent to the closed position, or choose the re-circulate function.
• Remove children’s toys, outdoor equipment and clothes from outdoor areas during spraying. If outdoor equipment and toys are exposed to pesticides, wash them with soap and water before using again.
• Wash skin and clothing exposed to pesticides with soap and water. Always wash your produce thoroughly with water before cooking or eating.
Residents are also advised to take steps to reduce the number of mosquitoes around a home or property, including eliminating standing water in yards. In addition, New Yorkers are urged to:
• Dispose of used tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers in which water collects;
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors. Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall;
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use and change the water in bird baths twice a week;
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds; and
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs, and drain water from pool covers.
