West Nile Pesticide Spraying In Our Area Tonight

The Department of Health says it will be spraying pesticides to reduce mosquito activity and the risk of the West Nile virus in Prospect Park, Green-Wood Cemetery, and surrounding areas tonight, Tuesday, September 16 between 8pm and 6am.

If this morning’s rain continues, the spraying will be postponed until tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17. However, the DOH informs us that because the rain is forecast to end well before 8pm, the spraying will take place today as planned — check their site for the latest updates.

For these sprayings, the Health Department says it uses a very low concentration of Anvil 10+10, a synthetic pesticide, adding that “when properly used, this product poses no significant risks to human health.”

Still, they recommend you minimize direct exposure by taking the following precautions:

• Stay indoors whenever possible during spraying, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions.

• Close the vents on your air-conditioner and set it to recirculate.

• Remove toys, equipment and clothing from outdoor areas. If you leave them out there, make sure to wash them with soap before using them.

• If you have an outdoor garden, wash your produce thoroughly before eating it.

Here’s a PDF from the city detailing the spraying and safety tips, and here’s the city’s webpage for West Nile Virus.

Map via DOH