City To Spray Mosquito-Killing Pesticides In Northeast Queens

QUEENS, NY -- The city will be spraying mosquito-killing pesticides in several northeast Queens neighborhoods on Tuesday night to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus, health department officials said.

The city's Department of Health will spray its latest round of pesticides in the region from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning, weather permitting. A rain date had been scheduled in case of bad weather for the same time Wednesday night.

Trucks spraying either DUET or Anvil 10+10 will hit College Point, Flushing, Beechhurst, Hollis, Jamaica Estates, Linden Hill, Malba, Murray Hill and Oakland Gardens on Tuesday, Health Department officials said.

Risks of the pesticides are low to people and pets, but exposure could cause short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash in those who are sensitive to the spray ingredients. Residents of the affected areas are advised to stay indoors during spray hours and close the vents on air conditioners in use.

The pesticide spraying is one of several happening in areas across the city this summer to curb the population of mosquitoes that could carry West Nile Virus. The potentially deadly infection has been detected in mosquito samples across all five boroughs this summer, according to the Health Department.

Here are the boundaries being sprayed Tuesday night:

• West: 188th Street, Union Turnpike, Utopia Parkway, Jewel Avenue, 164th Street, Long Island Expressway, Main Street, Franklin Avenue, Parsons Boulevard, 158th Street, Northern Boulevard, Linden Place, Whitestone Expressway, and Flushing Bay.
• East: East River to the North; 154th Street, Cross Island Parkway, Francis Lewis Boulevard, Utopia Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Francis Lewis Boulevard, 73rdAvenue, and Springfield Boulevard.
• South: Grand Central Parkway, Hillside Avenue, 196thStreet, and Jamaica Avenue.

Lead photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images