City Spraying for Mosquitoes in Washington Heights, Inwood

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The city is taking every precaution when it comes to preventing Zika virus in the city. The Department of Health will be spraying for mosquitos in the entirety of northern Manhattan above West 155th Street to minimize the risk of West Nile and Zika virus.

The city will be spraying in Washington Heights, Inwood, Sherman Creek and Sugar Hill from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting on Wednesday night.

The spraying is done in areas where Asian tiger mosquitoes — a relative of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which has spread Zika — have been found in higher numbers.

“While we do not expect to find Zika in New York City’s mosquitoes, we are taking no chances,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “We are moving forward with a safe but aggressive plan to spray pesticide when we find significant numbers of mosquitoes that could possibly carry Zika.”

The city announced the new round of spraying in Manhattan and Queens on the same day Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference to discuss preparedness for the Zika virus.

“New York City is deeply proud of our aggressive and comprehensive Zika response,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Though the mosquito carrying Zika has not been identified here, nearly a quarter of all positive cases in the continental United States are in New York. As a global city, we must continue to act aggressively with the full support of our federal government, and we hope the other cities will adhere to this model.”

New York City has had 483 total cases on Zika as of Aug. 12, with 463 being travel related and 20 pending verification of travel. There have been zero locally acquired cases. Forty-nine cases are in pregnant women. The city had its first case of a baby born with microcephaly due to Zika on July 24, but the mother acquired the case on travel.

The only state in the U.S. where Zika has been acquired locally is Florida.

“Zika is a serious threat to public health, and it is imperative that our city has the resources it needs to protect every New Yorker,” said State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who represents northern Manhattan. “New York City has done a tremendous job in educating New Yorkers and preparing a robust vision to maintain the health and well-being of the public.”

Photo Credit: Shutterstock