By Amber Roman
Aug 27, 2024, 5:57 PM EDT
New York has announced plans to step up pesticide spraying in an effort to curb the spread of mosquitoes, especially after cases of West Nile virus were detected in the region. This precautionary move comes at a critical time, just days after Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key figure during the pandemic, was hospitalized with West Nile virus. Now 83 years old, Dr. Fauci spent about a week under medical observation after experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, and extreme fatigue. Although he is expected to make a full recovery, it is suspected that Dr. Fauci contracted the disease in his own backyard in Washington DC.
In New York, the first warning signs went off when four people in Queens and Manhattan were diagnosed with West Nile virus last week, three of whom required hospitalization. The virus is known to affect the central nervous system, and while most infected people have no symptoms, it can be fatal in severe cases. About one in 150 people who get sick develop serious complications, and one in ten dies due to inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. People over 60 and those with preexisting health conditions are most vulnerable.
West Nile virus, however, is not the only concern in the region. Last week in Massachusetts, voluntary curfews were put in place in several areas after an elderly man contracted Eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-borne disease that can be lethal. This virus is particularly dangerous, with a 30% mortality rate among those infected, and those who survive often face severe neurological after-effects. So far, cases have been confirmed in Vermont and New Jersey, and in New York, the virus has been detected in horses in eight counties.
The combination of these threats has prompted the New York City Department of Health to take immediate action. Spraying began last week in the Bronx and Staten Island, and is expected to continue in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the coming days. In Manhattan, spraying is scheduled for Monday, while in Brooklyn it will take place on Wednesday, weather permitting. Spraying will take place between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., using trucks equipped to spray insecticides in areas where mosquitoes typically seek shelter, such as under plants, in tall grass, and under the leaves of trees and bushes.
The products used, such as Anvil 10+10, Duet and MERUS3, are adulticides designed to kill adult mosquitoes. While these products are considered safe for people and pets when used properly, officials have advised residents to stay indoors during spraying, close windows and use the recirculation feature on air conditioning systems if possible. In addition, residents have been urged to reduce mosquito breeding opportunities by eliminating standing water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Mosquitoes are typically most active between April and October, but warmer temperatures resulting from climate change are exacerbating the situation, increasing mosquito populations and biting rates. Of the more than 40 species of mosquitoes present in New York, only a few are capable of transmitting West Nile virus, primarily from the Culex genus, such as Culex pipiens, a species native to Europe. While the exact population size of these mosquitoes in the United States remains unknown, their ability to spread serious diseases is a growing concern.
With mosquito season still underway, New York City health officials remain on alert, stepping up efforts to protect the population from these emerging threats.
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