The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene started its first aerial larvaciding treatment of the season Thursday to reduce the presence of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens.
Treatments will be conducted in non-residential marshes and wetland areas using low-flying helicopters through Friday, and then on Monday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the health department.
Parts of Pelham Bay Park in the East Bronx will be specifically targeted given the presence of marshes and standing water. During the summer and early fall, mosquitoes are more likely to breed in still water that has been standing for more than five days. Therefore, hot weather conditions often cause a rise in mosquito populations, according to the health department. Larvaciding – the regular application of chemical insecticides to bodies of water in order to kill immature mosquitoes – is meant to reduce the mosquito population in New York City.
In order to most effectively reduce the mosquito population, the health department is using larvicides that contain naturally-occurring bacteria, which can kill young mosquitoes before they grow into adults.
The main mosquito-borne illness of concern is the West Nile virus, which results in sickness in 1 in 5 infected people and serious illness in 1 in 150 infected people. In 2021, there were 22 reported cases of the West Nile virus throughout New York City, four of which were in the Bronx. The overall number of cases increased in 2022, with 48 reported cases throughout the city. However, only one of those cases included the Bronx.
As of June 2, there have been no reported human cases of the West Nile virus this year. The Bronx Times asked the health department specific questions about the increase in West Nile virus cases from 2021 to 2022, and is awaiting a response.
To protect oneself against mosquito-borne illnesses, the health department recommends that residents mosquito-proof their homes, remove any standing water and use approved insect repellents.
For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
