THE BRONX — The city’s Health Department will use trucks to spray mosquito-killing pesticide in the south and northwest Bronx Monday night as part of its Zika-prevention efforts, according to the agency.
The spray — which officials are using for the fourth time and said does not pose a "significant risk" to residents — will be sprayed in South Bronx neighborhoods including Mott Haven, Claremont, Concourse and Hunts Point on Aug. 15 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., weather permitting.
“While we do not expect to find Zika in New York City’s mosquitoes, we are taking no chances. We are moving forward with a safe but aggressive plan to spray pesticide when we find significant numbers of mosquitoes that could possibly carry Zika,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a statement.
“New Yorkers should continue to enjoy outdoor activities this summer while taking the usual precautions against mosquitoes, including wearing repellant and reporting standing water to 311.”
The department will also spray in northwestern neighborhoods including Co-op City, Eastchester and Pelham Bay.
While the spray, which is called DUET and contains sumithrin and prallethrin, is not toxic, some residents could experience skin or eye irritation, health officials said.
Residents with asthma or other respiratory conditions are urged to stay indoors during the spraying.
Air conditioners can remain on, but people are encouraged to recirculate air in their apartment.
People should also remove children’s toys, equipment and clothes from outdoors during the spraying.
The department has also dropped larvicide pellets into marshland in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens to kill mosquito eggs before they hatch.
So far, there has no been no transmission of Zika from local mosquitoes, though the city recorded its first case of a baby born with virus-related birth defects.
