Health Department Reports High West Nile Levels

With high levels of the West Nile virus detected across the city, the Health Department is conducting mosquito control spraying in some neighbor- hoods to stop the spread of the virus.

“Warm standing water is the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, so with the three heat waves that we’ve already had this summer, it is vitally important to make sure standing water is reduced to help prevent mosquito breeding,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City Health Commissioner.

According to the city Health Department, unusually high levels of the virus were found in mosquitoes in Staten Island, Queens Brooklyn and the Bronx. At this time no human cases have been detected.

Locally, spraying was conducted this past Tuesday in parts of South Jamaica, Rochdale Village and Springfield Gardens. The area sprayed was bordered by Merrick and Farmers boulevards to the east, Linden Boulevard to the north, 140th Street to the West and North Conduit Avenue to the south.

The commissioner recommends that residents 50 and older take special precaution and encourages everyone to wear repellent at night.

Control efforts will continue for the rest of the summer and residents can find out when their neighbor- hood is being sprayed by registering with Notify NYC at nyc.gov/notifynyc or by calling 311.

Ways to reduce the risk of West Nile in your area:

• Use an approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (not for children under three), or products that contain the active ingredient IR3535.
• Make sure windows have screens, and repair or re- place screens that have tears or holes.
• Eliminate any standing water from your property
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.

Source: NYC Health Department

JPCA Tackles Crime, Trash Trains and West Nile

By Tamara Best

Crime, the transporting of trash through the area and preventing West Nile virus were key discussions at the Juniper Park Civic Association meeting held last week.

Crime in the 104th Precinct

Crime is up 34 percent for the year, according to Lt. James Lombardi of the 104th Precinct. Felony assault is up 65 percent for the year, of which nearly half of the assaults are domestic related. Grand larceny continues to plague the 104, with Toyota Highlanders and vans popular targets. Lombardi said the precinct has received intelligence that the vans being stolen are being used in South Jamaica as dollar vans. There is some good news however, as robberies and burglaries are on the decline.

The civic association recognized Lt. Lombardi with the 2010 Community Service Award for his work.

Garbage Train

Ashley Pillsbury, legislative director for Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), gave an update on legislation aimed at changing the way trains haul waste through the area. Of the four bills, Pillsbury said two are alive and well.

Bill 10819 requires that anytime the MTA enters into a lease agreement with another company, that they insert terms and conditions up to set environmental standards about how waste is carried while on their line. Bill 10176 spells out requirements for how waste must be covered, before it can leave a waste transfer station. Both of the bills are in the rules committee, which is the last step before a bill reaches the floor for a vote. Pillsbury said she is confident that they will be voted on before the end of the year.

Two other bills, one dealing with emergency response and the other with penalties, will not resume discussions until next year due to their committees not meeting.

The first bill would create an enhanced penalty structure for companies not adhering to environmental standards when hauling waste. The second would require a shipping company to pay a municipality anytime an emergency response is called to where a hauler is shipping waste.

West Nile concerns

With the start of West Nile virus season here, John Zuzworsky from the Department of Health spoke to residents on the importance of being vigilant against the virus.

“People have stopped being worried and that is not good,” he said.

To help protect homes from breeding mosquitoes Zuzworsky and the department advise residents to dump out anything that has standing for water. Zuzworsky said that water that stands for four days or more provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents should also make sure that windows and doors have screens and make repairs to any leaky faucets or broken screens.

Queens Woman Infected with West Nile Virus

CITY’S FIRST TWO HUMAN CASES OF ‘08 REPORTED

by Conor Greene

Two New York residents, including a Queens woman, have tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the first two human cases reported this year, announced city health officials.

A 73-year-old Queens woman was hospitalized last Friday after she was infected by the virus while in the city, according to the city Department of Health. A 60-year-old Bronx man was released from a hospital last week after also becoming infected.

Both individuals became ill in July and were hospitalized in August, according to the DOH. The Queens woman developed encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and is now recovering in a local hospital, according to the department. The Bronx man developed an inflammation of the brain and spinal tissue (meningitis) as a result of the virus, but has since fully recovered.

DOH officials said the man had recently traveled outside the city, making it difficult to determine where he was infected, but it is believed that the woman was infected while in the city. Citing privacy issues, a DOH spokeswoman this week refused to say where in Queens the woman lives or is believed to have contracted the virus.

“A case of West Nile virus provides an urgent reminder to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the city’s health commissioner. “Wearing mosquito repellent whenever you are outdoors, and long sleeves and pants in the morning and evening will reduce your risk of contracting the virus. Older New Yorkers need to be especially careful; they are more likely to become seriously ill and die if they are infected.”

Last year, 18 city residents contracted the virus and three died. The DOH warns that each year, the first infections usually don’t occur until August, meaning residents should continue to protect themselves against the threat of infection over the coming weeks.

According to the DOH, a greater number of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus this year compared with 2007. The majority of positive tests were in Queens, where 62 mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus so far this year, compared with 53 all of last year.

In many cases, a West Nile virus infection causes mild or moderate flu-like symptoms, according to the DOH. However, in some cases, particularly in people 50 and older, it can cause serious infection in the brain and spinal cord that can be fatal. The most common symptoms are headache, fever and extreme fatigue.

Residents are reminded to eliminate any standing water from their property and make sure that roof gutters are clean and draining properly. Allowing standing water to accumulate is a violation of the city’s health code.

West Nile Virus Detected in Queens

The city Department of Health is urging residents, especially senior citizens, to take precautions after West Nile virus was detected in neighborhoods across Queens, including Middle Village, Kew Gardens and Woodhaven.

The recent finding marks the first time the virus has been detected in mosquitoes within the city this year. No human cases of the virus have been reported yet, but two people died out of 12 human cases reported last year. Since 2004, just 34 cases of West Nile virus have been reported around the city, but 14 of those were in Queens.

Along with those three neighborhoods, West Nile has also been detected in South Flushing, Cambria Heights, Whitestone, Brookville, Laureton, Rosedale and Far Rockaway, according to the city DOH.

The health department advises residents to eliminate any standing water that collects on their property since mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing or slow moving water. Also, weeds, tall grass and bushes provide an outdoor resting place for mosquitoes, so residents are urged to keep their lawns maintained.

To prevent standing water from accumulating, the city asks that residents remove all discarded tires from their property, dispose of old tin cans and ceramic pots, keep unused swimming pools covered when not in use and making sure roof gutters drain property and are unclogged.

For details about West Nile virus, check nyc.gov/health.