City To Spray Mosquito-Killing Pesticides In Jamaica

JAMAICA, QUEENS -- The city will be spraying mosquito-killing pesticides in Jamaica and other southeast Queens neighborhoods overnight on Sept. 5 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 8:30 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 Sept. 6.

Trucks spraying either DUET or Anvil 10+10 will roll through parts of Jamaica, South Jamaica and South Ozone Park, Health Department officials said. On the Rockaway Peninsula, spray trucks will hit parts of Arverne, Bayswater, Edgemere, Far Rockaway and Somerville.

Risks of the pesticides are low to people and pets, but exposure can cause short-term eye and 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 on Sept. 5:

• West of Van Wyck Expressway; north of Liberty Avenue; east of Merrick Boulevard, 115th Avenue and Guy Brewer Boulevard; and south of Belt Parkway.
• West of Beach 73rd Street, Amstel Boulevard, and Jamaica Bay; north of Jamaica Bay, Hassock Street, Beach Channel Drive, and Redfern Avenue; east of Virginia Street, Central Avenue, Elvira Avenue, Reads Lane, Jarvis Avenue and Beach 6th Street; and south of Seagirt and Rockaway Beach boulevards.

Lead photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images