Health Department Biweekly Reports Folder 0066, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Honorable Joseph J. Lhota -2- August 15, 2000

bawd adult mosquito control in areas of New York City. As of August 5th, the following areas in New York City have received treatment with adulticide: • Staten Island: entire borough treated twice • Manhattan: Central Park (treated twice), from 23 d Street to Dyckman Street, Roosevelt•Island • Queens: Alley Pond Park; Douglaston, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill areas. • Bronx: 10452, and the area west of Webster Ave in 10451 • Brooklyn: 11208

In all situations, the Department applied Anvil, a pyrethroid-based pesticide approved for controlling adult mosquitoes. Anvil is relatively nontoxic to humans and other mammals, and health risks associated with the use of pyrethroids in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guidelines are negligible.

To quickly detect the presence of West Nile virus in New York City, the Department of Health conducts a number of surveillance programs. Surveillance activities include the placement of approximately 120 mosquito traps at more than 70 sites throughout the City; monitoring 14 sentinel chicken flocks placed in each borough; retrieving and testing dead birds reported to the Department by New York City residents; and working closely with the medical community to• identify potential cases in people. In addition, the Department continues to conduct extensive larviciding activities in catch basins and other areas of standing water citywide to reduce mosquito breeding.

As of August 5th, a total of 33 WNV-infected birds have been identified in New York City (27 in Staten Island, 3 in Queens, and 3 in Manhattan), and WNV has been confirmed in 6 pools of mosquitoes (3 in Staten Island, 1 in Queens and 3 in Manhattan).

In recent press releases the Department has reminded New Yorkers to help mosquito-proof New York City, particularly within their neighborhoods, by removing sources of standing water around their homes where mosquitoes may breed, and reporting areas of standing water. The Department also reminded New Yorkers to take precautions to limit exposure to mosquitoes by wearing protective clothing, such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks, if outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, and by considering the use of insect repellant containing 10% or less of DEET for children and no more than 30% DEET for adults, according to manufacturer's directions.

As of August 5°h, the Department's 24-hour automated West Nile Virus information line has received 51,364 calls.

NYC-WTC 000138078