What is the City doing to address the possible return of West Nile virus?
New York City is working to reduce the risk of West Nile virus infection. The main goal is to decrease the number of adult mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites wherever possible and applying larvicides (to kill the immature larval form of the mosquito) to areas of standing water that cannot be drained completely. The City also regularly tests mosquitoes and birds for West Nile virus throughout the spring and summer.
The New York City Department of Health, along with other City, State and federal agencies, has developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the risk of West Nile virus returning in 2000. The main goal of this plan is to decrease the number of adult mosquitoes by eliminating their breeding sites, where possible, and applying larvicides (to kill the immature larval form of the mosquito) to areas with standing water that can not be drained completely. The City will also regularly test adult mosquitoes and birds for West Nile virus throughout the spring and summer. If West Nile virus is found, focused and limited applications of pesticides may be needed to prevent the spread to people.
