UES To Be Sprayed With Pesticides This Week, & You Might Feel The Itch

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Dozens of Upper East Side blocks and all of Central Park will be sprayed with pesticides this week as the city contends with a surge in mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the Department of Health said.

Every block between Fifth and Park avenues along the full length of Central Park will be sprayed starting around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, continuing through 6 a.m. Friday morning, according to the city.

That's in addition to the entire Upper West Side and all of Upper Manhattan, according to a map of the spray area released by the department.

Any risks to people and pets are low, since the spraying will only involve "very low concentrations" of pesticides, the city says. Still, some people sensitive to the spray ingredients might have brief rashes or irritation to the eye or throat, and those with respiratory conditions might also be affected, the city says.

To stay safe, the city recommends staying indoors and closing air conditioner vents, though ACs can stay on. Anyone exposed to the spray can wash their skin and clothing with soap and water.

Last month, the Health Department revealed that two New Yorkers had been sickened with West Nile this year, while 1,068 mosquitoes had been found carrying the virus so far in 2022 — the highest number on record.

Still, some advocates oppose the practice. The No Spray Coalition, active since the city's anti-mosquito program began in 1999, released a statement this week suggesting that the chemicals could harm ecosystems in Central Park.

The pesticides being used include the product Anvil, which includes components that can disrupt animals' endocrine systems, according to the state health department. The substance is also toxic to some insects and fish.

Reached for comment, a city health department spokesperson reiterated that the pesticides' risks were low to humans and pets, and noted that West Nile virus "can cause very severe illness."

Symptoms of West Nile include headache, fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue, the city said. Some cases can be fatal, especially for older patients, while others can cause no symptoms at all.

To do your part to stem the mosquito tide, the city says New Yorkers' best option is to eliminate any standing water from their properties. Making sure windows have screens and buying an EPA-approved insect repellent are other useful steps.

The city also planned to spray large swaths of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx with pesticides earlier this week.

Related coverage: West Nile Virus Breaks Record In NYC Mosquitoes, 2 People Infected