Health Department Forms Folder 0065, 1999-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

HEALTH SUPPORT SVC. Fax:212-788-9232 Sep 1 '00 1041 P.02 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

OYHCE 0" PUBLIC AFFAIRS 1 75 WORTH STRF;FT, ROOM 329 NEW YORK. N.V. (001) (212) 7g8-5290 FAX; (212) 7RR-4749 nvc.gav/hc&ith

NLAL I.. (I()HhN, MI). SANUR4 MULLIN C:om missmrtpr Aseorinrn Cnmmiuinn.r

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sandra Mullin/John Gadd Thursday, August 31, 2000 (21.2) 788-5190

WEST NILE VIRUS UPDATE 6 Additional Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus (3 in Staten island. 2 in Manhattan, 1 in the Bronx)

Ground-Based Spraying in Limited Areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, Scher.'uled Saturday. September2, from 10.00p,m. to 5:00 a. m_*

Ground-Based Spraying in Non -Residential Areas on Staten Island, Originally Scheduledfir Wednesday, Scheduled .Friday, September 1, from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight*

Ground-Based Spraying in a Non -Residential Area of Breezy Point, Queens, in the Gateway National Recreation Area, Scheduled Friday, September 1, from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight*

Reminder: Spraying in Vicinity of Woodhaven, Queens, Scheduledfor Tomonox' Ni¢Ily and Lower Manhattan, South of 23rd Street, to be Sprayed Tonieht, from 10:00 p. ra. to 5:00 a.m.

New York City Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., announced today that evidencz of West Nile virus (W N V) has been confirmed by the New York State Department of Health i.n six additional birds collected in New York City. Two of the birds collected are prompting lim3ed spraying in areas close to where the birds were found. One of these birds, an American Kestrel found near Washington Heights, prompts spraying in a previously untreated section of the western Bronx. The other bird, a crow found on August 17 in Murray Hill, Manhattan, is prompting spraying in previously untreated sections of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and western) Queens. These areas are within the two mile zones of where the birds were found. (A complete spraying schedule is attached.)

Three of the birds, all crows, were collected from Staten Island (from Port Richmond on August 17, from the vicinity of Clove Lakes Park on August 19, and from Willow Brook Park on August 21). The sixth bird, an American Kestrel, was collected from the area of Pelham Parkway, Bronx, on August 2. Spraying is not currently planned for these areas.

Dr. Cohen said. "The New York City Department of Health is continuing its comprehensiv e elTorts to identify West Nile virus in the City through a multifaceted surveillance strategy which provides early warning of West Nile viral activity in City neighborhoods. Through this active tracking of West Nile virus, we are taking expedient action to prevent additional human illnesses associated with the virus, We plan to continue these aggressive efforts to protect the public. health through the rest of the mosquito season."

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