Mosquito Spraying Planned For Brooklyn

The NYC Health Department will conduct aerial larviciding treatment from Tuesday, July 7, to Thursday, July 9, in Marine Park and Fresh Creek Nature Preserve to treat nonresidential marshes and wetland areas. 

The spraying will occur between 6:00am and 7:00pm in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Due to the size, dense vegetation, and limited accessibility, the selected areas will be treated using a low-flying helicopter. In the event of inclement weather, treatment will be delayed until July 10, 13, and 14 during the same hours, officials said. 

Periods of warm weather, rainfall, and high tides can create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes in marshes and wetlands, which are active in New York City from approximately April to October. To date, no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in New York City this year. However, current environmental conditions in the targeted treatment areas are expected to support increased mosquito breeding, prompting the agency to conduct its second treatment of the year.

The Health Department will apply larvicide that targets mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adult mosquitoes. The product used for this treatment, VectoBac GS, contains naturally occurring bacteria that specifically target mosquito larvae. This product is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and is used as part of the Health Department’s integrated mosquito management program. It has minimal impact on people, pets, fish, birds, and other wildlife when applied according to label directions, according to officials.

For more information about West Nile virus and mosquito prevention, visit Mosquito Control.