MANHATTAN, QUEENS — For the fifth time in 2016, the city's health department will be spraying pesticide in parts of New York City on Wednesday to reduce mosquito activity and the risk of Zika and West Nile viruses.
The specified neighborhoods of Manhattan and Queens are being treated due to a significant presence of Aedes albopictus, also known as Asian tiger mosquitoes, according to the agency. While the species of mosquito has the potential to carry the Zika virus, they are not responsible for the current outbreak in Latin and Central America. So far, no mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus have been found in New York, the city says.
“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.
The pesticide is a very low concentration of DUETTM, which poses no significant risks when used properly, officials said. It will be sprayed in Northern Manhattan including Fort George, Inwood, Sherman Creek, Sugar Hill and Washington Heights, between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday.
In Queens, it will be sprayed during the same hours in Auburndale, Bayside, Corona, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Murray Hill, Pomonok and Queensboro Hill.
During the hours that the trucks will spray pesticide, the health department advises people to stay indoors, especially people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
The agency also recommends to set air conditioner vents to the closed position, or choose the re-circulate function, as well as to bring any belongings indoors while the pesticide is being sprayed.
While there are no records of the Zika virus being spread through mosquitoes in New York, the city has recorded 444 cases of Zika in New Yorkers as of Aug. 5, with 22 cases pending — including a case of a baby being born with Zika-related birth defects and at least four people who have contracted the virus through sex.
