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Mayor Announces West Nile Prevention & Control Program Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Thomas Frieden last week announced New York City’s West Nile virus (WNV) prevention and control plan and urged New Yorkers to protect themselves against mosquito bites during the summer. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Christopher Ward, Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) President Dr. Benjamin Chu and Department of Sanitation (DOS) Commissioner John Doherty joined Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Frieden at Louis Valentine Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn, for the announcement. "In just three years since the introduction of West Nile virus into New York City, we have in place one of the most sophisticated monitoring and control programs in the world," said Mayor Bloomberg. "New Yorkers can help by reporting dead birds and significant areas of standing water, by removing objects that can contain standing water around their homes, and by taking personal measures to avoid mosquito bites." "Each year, DOH’s program has been increasingly prevention oriented, with less reliance on pesticides," Commissioner Frieden said. "This progress has been made possible by several innovations including state-of-the-art surveillance and laboratory testing. We can now pinpoint geographically viral activity in birds and mosquitoes before humans are infected and target prevention measures accordingly. And now that our laboratory is equipped to test mosquitoes and humans for the virus, we can turnaround test results more quickly, an advance that is critical to preventing further disease. These strides, combined with the public’s participation in prevention, has put New York City at the forefront of West Nile virus control efforts." To control the West Nile virus, DOH will again rely mainly on larval control (larviciding) and reducing areas of standing water. Beginning this month, larvicide is being applied to parks, ponds, lakes, unused swimming pools, and wastewater treatment plants, and beginning in early June, will be applied to more than 135,000 catch basins citywide. Larvicide will be reapplied as needed throughout the mosquito-breeding season. This year, DOH will aggressively inspect and issue Notices of Violation for properties with significant areas of standing water that are deemed potentially harmful to public health. West Nile Virus was first identified in New York City in 1999. In that year there were 45 cases, including four deaths. In 2000, 14 cases were identified with one fatality and in 2001 there were seven cases and no deaths. Animals will be monitored for infection and illness, with a focus primarily on dead birds, especially crows, and domestic animals, particularly horses. Veterinarians are required to report any suspected animal cases with neurological illnesses to DOH. Dead bird reports are essential to analyze and track the location of the virus, and the public is urged to report dead birds through DOH’s WNV information line (1-877-WNV-4NYC) (1-877-968-4692) or website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvbird.html. Because not all dead birds are suitable for testing, however, the City will not pick up and test all dead birds that are reported. Dead birds that are not picked up by the City should be disposed of with gloves and double plastic bags. Thus far, all New York City dead birds that have been tested have been negative. Birds in Rockland and Albany Counties in New York State, in New Haven, Connecticut and in Monmouth and Morris Counties in New Jersey however, have tested positive for WNV. This summer, the city is conducting a public education campaign that will include posters, brochures, radio spots and a Public Health Youth Corps to promote the elimination of standing water around homes, the reporting of dead birds, and the need for personal protection measures, such as covering one’s skin between dusk and dawn. Information can be obtained through the toll-free West Nile Virus Information Line 1-877-WNV-4NYC (1-877-968-4692) and at www.nyc.gov/health. Throughout the winter months, DOH tested adult mosquitoes to monitor the presence of WNV in over-wintering mosquitoes in New York City. All mosquitoes tested thus far have been negative. From June through October 2002, DOH will trap adult mosquitoes throughout the five boroughs. All mosquitoes collected will be tested for WNV at the DOH Public Health Laboratory. The Comprehensive Mosquito Surveillance and Control Plan can be found on the DOH website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/pdf/wnv/wnvplan2002.pdf and further information on West Nile virus can be obtained by calling the City’s toll-free WNV Information Line, 1-877-WNV-4NYC (1-877-968-4692). (212) 788-5290. How to Protect Against West Nile Virus •Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens that have tears or holes. •Remove all discarded tires from your property. •Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers. •Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall. •Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered. •Drain water from pool covers. •Change the water in birdbaths every 3 to 4 days. •Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use. •Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property. •Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties. •Some local hardware stores may carry a product called Mosquito Dunk® for use in areas of standing water around the home. If these products are purchased for home use, careful reading of the directions is recommended.
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