While the Zika virus has not been found in any NYC mosquito, an insect that is an evolutionary cousin to the Asian tiger mosquito has been to blame for the current Zika outbreak. On Wednesday from 10 p.m.to 6 a.m. Thursday, pesticide will be sprayed from trucks in Manhattan and Queens. Simultaneously in Queens, Auburndale, Bayside, Corona, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Murray Hill, Pomonok and Queensboro Hill will receive the same treatment. “We are moving forward with a safe but aggressive plan to spray pesticide when we find significant numbers of mosquitoes that could possibly carry Zika”, Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a statement.
Advertisement
The city is investing money to battle the Zika Virus and Mayor Bill de Blasio wants the federal government to do the same.
“While we do not expect to find Zika in New York City’s mosquitoes, we are taking no chances”.
Officials say there have been more than 300 cases of Zika recorded in the city, all travel related. More than 3,400 at-risk pregnant women have been tested, with 49 testing positive; one baby was born with microcephaly due to Zika.
Advertisement
Late a year ago, Brazil saw unusually high numbers of a birth defects called microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.
