A low rate of the synthetic pesticide Anvil 10+10 (Sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide) will be sprayed next week in
part of Brownsville, City Line, Crown Heights, Ditmas Park, East New York, Farragut, Greenwood Heights, Kensington, New Lots, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, Remsen Village, Rugby, Spring Creek, Starrett City, Weeksville, Windsor Terrace, and Wingate.The affected zip codes are
parts of 11203, 11207, 11208, 11212, 11215, 11217, 11218, 11219, 11220, 11225, 11226, 11232, 11234, 11236, 11238, and 11239.The pesticide will be sprayed from trucks for the purpose of reducing the number of adult mosquitoes and minimizing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus and Zika Virus.
Spraying will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15th, and finish at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16th. If the weather isn't conducive to spraying during those hours or if the equipment malfunctions, spraying will be delayed until Wednesday, August 16th.
The boundaries of the spraying area are
- 4th Avenue to the West;
- Ocean Parkway, Prospect Park West, Eastern Parkway, Mary Pinkett Avenue, Lenox Road, Nostrand Avenue, East New York Avenue, Remsen Avenue, Lenox Road, East 98th Street, Riverdale Avenue, New Lots Avenue to the North;
- Schenck Avenue, Hendrix Creek to the East; and
- Belt Parkway, Paerdegat Basin, Ralph Avenue, Ditmas Avenue, Avenue D, Flatbush Avenue, Albemarie Road, Church Avenue, 14th Avenue, 39th Street, Fort Hamilton Parkway, 53rd Street to the South.
Watch a truck spraying pesticide in 2012 at http://nospray.org/2015/09/07/watch-how-nyc-sprays-neighborhoods-by-truck-pesticides-you-wont-believe-it.
Before spraying begins and while it's taking place, take precautions to minimize your direct exposure. Also, reduce your exposure to mosquitoes, the carriers of West Nile Virus.
Stay indoors and keep your pets indoors during spraying.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) explains that
West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause viral encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or viral meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. You or your child cannot get West Nile virus from a person who has the disease.
West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact such as touching, kissing, or caring for someone who is infected.
New Yorkers can take steps to protect themselves during West Nile virus season by reducing the presence of mosquitoes in their surroundings, and safely using insect repellent.
DOH has published the 44-page "Comprehensive Mosquito Surveillance and Control Plan 2017" and posted it here.
For more information about West Nile virus, contact the New York City Citizen Service Center, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 311. Or check the DOH website at www.nyc.gov/health/wnv.