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Health Department to Spray Pesticide in East Bronx to Reduce West Nile Risk

By Eddie Small | September 14, 2015 2:09pm
 The Health Department will spray for West Nile virus throughout the East Bronx on Wednesday.
The Health Department will spray for West Nile virus throughout the East Bronx on Wednesday.
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NYC Health Department

THE BRONX — The Health Department will spray pesticide to tackle West Nile virus throughout multiple Bronx neighborhoods on Sept. 16 between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning.

The treatment will be concentrated in the East Bronx and 13 neighborhoods will be impacted by it: Baychester, Co-Op City, Country Club, Eastchester, Eastchester Bay, Edenwald, Middleton, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Schuylerville, Spencer Estates, Throgs Neck and Westchester Square.

The area is bound by Boston Road to the north, the East River to the south, Eastchester Road, Blondell Avenue and Westchester Creek to the west, and Hollywood Avenue, Throgs Neck Expressway, Lafayette Avenue, Eastchester Bay, and the Hutchinson River to the East.

The neighborhoods have high mosquito populations and are being treated due to a rise in West Nile incidents, according to the Health Department.

A total of 10 New Yorkers had been infected with the West Nile virus as of Friday, up from three on Thursday, according to the agency's online tally of cases.

The department will use a low concentration of the synthetic pesticide Anvil 10+10 in The Bronx, a product that officials say does not pose any significant risk to humans when used properly.

However, the city still recommends that people stay indoors during the spraying, especially people with asthma, as exposure to the pesticide could worsen their condition.

Officials also suggest keeping objects like toys and clothing inside during the spraying and washing them with soap and water if they are exposed.

People should also wash their skin with soap and water if it is exposed to the pesticide, according to the Health Department.

Bronxites can leave on their air conditioners during the spraying but they should close the machines' vents to reduce the risk of getting exposed to pesticides indoors.

If the weather is too bad to spray, city officials said they will delay the treatment until Sept. 17 at the same time.