Facing the dual, deadly threat of the Zika and West Nile viruses, the city’s Health Department isn’t wasting any time going to war against the local mosquito population.
The agency announced Wednesday it would conduct aerial larvicide spraying over non-residential marshy areas of Queens and the rest of the city from May 12 to May 14. Mosquitoes are known to breed in these areas, and the effort aims to wipe out the larvae before they hatch into mosquitoes when warm summer weather arrives.
In Queens, the spraying will take place in the area of Alley Creek inside Alley Pond Park; the abandoned Flushing Airport in College Point; Dubos Point and Edgemere Park in Far Rockaway; Brookville Park; and Kissena Park. More specific details are listed at the end of this article.
The Health Department has sprayed these areas annually for nearly two decades since the West Nile virus arrived in New York City in 1999. The latest mosquito-borne threat, Zika, made headlines earlier this year amid an outbreak in South America that sickened thousands of people. Some of those infected were pregnant women whose children were afflicted with microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
There are no cases of Zika transmission in New York City thus far, although 62 New Yorkers contracted the virus while traveling in other parts of the globe, according to the Health Department.
During spraying, the Health Department will utilize low-flying helicopters spreading “environmentally friendly” larvicides Altosid XR-G or VectoBac. These products contain “naturally-occurring bacteria” known to destroy infant mosquito eggs before they grow into adults.
Mosquitoes are known to breed in standing water, so the Health Department advises New Yorkers to eliminate standing water on their properties. Residents should also fix or replace broken screens on their windows and use insect repellents when venturing outside during mosquito season.
The spraying will take place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 12-14, weather permitting. For further information, call 311 or visit the Health Department’s website.
SPRAYING AREA BOUNDARIES IN QUEENS
- Alley Pond Park: Bounded by Grand Central Parkway on the south; Northern Boulevard on the north; Douglaston Parkway and 240th Street on the east; and Cross Island Parkway and East Hampton Boulevard on the west.
- Abandoned Flushing Airport: Bounded by Whitestone Expressway on the east; 20th Avenue on the north; 130th Avenue and Ulmer Street on the west; and Ulmer Street and 28th Street on the south.
- Dubos Point and Edgemere Park: Bounded by Norton Basin on the east; Mott Point on the north; Grass Hassock Channel on the west; and Beach 65th Street, DeCosta Avenue and Almeda Avenue on the south.
- Brookville Park: Bounded by Rockaway Boulevard on the south; Huxley Street on the east; 150th Road on the west; and 149th Avenue to 225th Street, 148th Avenue to 230th Street and 147th Avenue to 235th Street on the north.
- Kissena Park: Bounded by Booth Memorial Avenue on the south; 164th Street on the east; Oak Avenue and Rose Avenue on the north; and Kissena Boulevard on the west.
