Queens lawmaker calls for more pesticide spraying
BY JACOB KAYE
The city has begun its
annual war on mosquitoes
with larvicide spraying in
marshy areas of Queens
this week — but one local
lawmaker says the city
shouldn’t ignore her district’s
skeeter problem.
Assemblywoman Stacey
Pheffer Amato — whose
district includes Howard
Beach, Broad Channel and
much of the Rockaway
Peninsula — called on the city
to solve her district’s mosquito
problem on Wednesday.
Citing the potential spread
of West Nile Virus and Zika
Virus in coastal communities,
Amato’s request to the New
York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene
listed five areas in her district
that she wants included in the
department’s aerial spraying
of larvicide.
The helicopter spraying,
planned for June 20, June 21
and June 24 in non-residential
areas, is used to kill larvae
growing in large marsh areas
before they can turn into
adult mosquitoes and spread
potential viruses.
“Every summer, families
across southern Queens
deal with the onslaught of
mosquitos any time we step
outside,” Amato said. “That
is why it is so important to
have additional sprayings to
prevent against the potential
risks posed by West Nile
virus and Zika virus.”
One of the ZIP codes
Amato requested, 11414 in
Howard Beach, saw nine
reported cases of West Nile
Virus in 2018 and has had
at least one reported case of
the virus every year dating
back until 2012, according to
health department data.
However, the Department
of Health doesn’t see that
ZIP code as deserving of the
aerial spraying.
“Only large marsh areas
and wetlands which are
suitable for aerial larviciding
are treated by air,” a Health
Department spokesperson
said. “All other places
receive manual application of
larvicide if necessary.”
The ZIP codes Amato
The city Department of Health plans to spray larvicide from a helicopter this week to prevent
mosquitoes from reproducing in northeast Queens wetlands.
requested for treatment
are 11693, 11694 and 11697
(Far Rockaway), 11414
(Howard Beach) and 11417 (
Ozone Park).
Portions of Amato’s district
are scheduled for manual
sprayings, the department
says, just not by air.
“All catch basins in
Rockaways and marsh
areas in Dubos Point and
Edgemere Park are treated
at least three times in the
mosquito season,” the
spokesperson said.
The department added that
there is no threat of Zika in
the area at the time and that
mosquitoes are monitored
on a weekly basis for signs of
West Nile virus.
At the time, no human
cases of the virus have
been reported.
Should that change, the
department said they’ll
take action.
“If West Nile Virus
activity is found in the area
at a level that would threaten
public health, the Health
Department will immediately
conduct mosquito spraying
in the affected area,” the
spokesperson said.
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