Health Department to Begin West Nile Prevention Efforts

In an effort to prevent West Nile Virus—a disease that sickened a New Rochelle resident last August—the County Health Department will be checking catch basins for standing water and applying larvicide as needed on Monday, May 13.

According to a release sent out by the department, teams will begin in the northern part of the county and move south over the next few months. The department will also sample water from outfall points along the Hudson River and Long Island Sound to check for methoprene, the active ingredient in the briquettes used to keep mosquito larvae from developing.

“Through the combined efforts of residents and county government, we can successfully curb the mosquito population and keep cases of West Nile Virus to a minimum,” said Dr. Sherlita Amler, commissioner of health.  

“We must all do our part to keep mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus from breeding in Westchester. Please survey your property routinely and empty standing water from any discarded tires, unchlorinated swimming pools, outdoor pottery, pails, birdbaths or other containers throughout the spring and summer.”

Environmental health staff from the Health Department will be applying larvicide to all street catch basins, which have been identified as ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos. These basins will be marked with a bright, orange dot on the pavement in front of the basin; those basins that have been evaluated but do not need treatment will be identified with two orange dots.

The Health Department has the following mosquito prevention tips:

• Remove unneeded tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles from outdoor property.
• Cover trash containers to keep rain out.
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.
• Remove standing water from basements.
• Place a couple of capfuls of household bleach in a basement sump-pump pit if it has standing water.
• Keep drains, culverts and streams clean of weeds and trash so that water can drain properly.
• Make sure stored boat covers are completely drained and store small boats upside down.
• Drain water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.
• Trim shrubs to eliminate hiding places for adult mosquitoes.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas and hot tubs. Be sure rainwater does not collect on their covers and disinfect them with bleach to kill mosquito larvae and eggs.
• Fill in hollow tree stumps and rot holes that hold water with sand or concrete.
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors.

For more information about larviciding and West Nile Virus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health or call the Health Department  at   (914) 813-5000.