Late last month, the City began ground-based pesticide spraying of areas where mosquitoes were found to be infected with the West Nile virus. This was not a surprising finding, since we knew that birds were getting the virus from mosquitoes. But we're pleased at this point that we haven't seen a human case, and we have no evidence to believe at this time that the virus is more prevalent or has greater traction in New York City now than it had last year. Protecting the public health is our number-one priority, and we are continuing our exhaustive efforts to identify any signs of West Nile virus in New York City as early as possible. To quickly detect the presence of the virus, the Department of Health conducts a number of surveillance programs, including placing more than 150 mosquito traps throughout the city at 90 different sites.
All indications are that our early warning system is working.
The general rule that we follow is that if we find a bird or mosquito that's infected, we spray within a two-mile radius after giving residents 48 hours notice. If we find no further signs of the virus, we won't spray again. The reality is that the disease is dangerous, especially to senior citizens, and the Centers for Disease Control recommends that we spray areas where the virus has been detected. The spraying is conducted in accordance with EPA and DEC guidelines, and health risks associated with the use of the pesticide in this manner are negligible. If you have to remain outdoors, avoid eye contact with the spray.