Astorino Announces County Plan to Combat Zika Virus
By Lizzie Gellman
Responding to increasing concern about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, County Executive Rob Astorino revealed Thursday morning the county’s plan to control the virus and protect residents from contracting the disease.
Astorino said the strategy involves “education, surveillance and mosquito patrol,” with a few new steps to accompany precautionary measures already in place for prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.
He repeatedly stressed that there have been no locally acquired cases of Zika in Westchester, but travelers have brought the virus into the United States.
“Education is really going to be the most critical part of our plan, because people need to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their family,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler, who joined Astorino and Environmental Health Commissioner Peter DeLucia at the Kensico Dam playground in Valhalla for the announcement.
The plan calls for the county to double the number of mosquito trap sites and add a new type of trap to catch mosquitos that can transmit Zika.
The county is also continuing previous efforts for mosquito control by giving residents free minnows that eat mosquito larvae in backyard ponds and water features. Residents can obtain minnows Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Westchester County Airport, Loop Road, Building 2.
Eliminating mosquito breeding sites through the application of larvacide to catch basins on county and municipal roads is planned as well. Astorino said that will continue until the entire county is covered.
Residents should keep their property clear of potential mosquito breeding sites and take the proper steps to protect themselves from being bitten.
Limited areas will be targeted for ground spraying should a locally acquired case be confirmed or nearby mosquitoes test positive for Zika.
Zika can be spread through blood and sexual contact, but not through casual contact. One out of five people infected will get sick from the disease, usually a mild illness treated with fluids and rest. But Zika can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Therefore, Amler recommended that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas where Zika is found.
The Aedes aegypti, the type of mosquito associated with the recent outbreak, has not been found in the United States. However, there is a mosquito population located in parts of Westchester and the surrounding area that may carry Zika.
To avoid exposure to Zika, Amler recommended using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellants when outdoors, covering exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and socks, and avoiding sleeping with windows open unless the windows have screens in good condition.
DeLucia said preventative measures include clearing gutters and screens, dumping out watering cans and scrubbing old tires and trashcan lids in order to remove mosquito eggs. He and Astorino emphasized that the Zika virus does not need water to spread; unlike in the case of the West Nile virus, these mosquitos can lay their eggs in dry areas.
For more information, visit the county health department’s website, www.westchestergov.com/health, which includes the new “Keep Healthy and Bug Off” brochure.
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