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Mosquito Spraying In Brooklyn Tonight Amidst West Nile Fears
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 23, 2012
Modified Aug 23, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 23, 2012
Modified Aug 23, 2012
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There's only been one reported human case of the West Nile virus this year in New York City—on Staten Island—but with one of the largest-ever national outbreaks of West Nile around the country, health officials are hedging their bets all over. And with West Nile having been detected in all five boroughs, the city has been spraying neighborhoods with high or increasing mosquito populations—and that'll include various parts of Brooklyn tonight.
Health officials will spray Marine Park, Flatlands, Georgetown, Canarsie, East Flatbush, Mills Basin, Mills Island, Spring Creek, and Starrett City. The spraying is expected to begin at 8 p.m. tonight, and last through 6 a.m. Friday—residents are advised to stay indoors during spraying.
According to the CDC, 1,118 illnesses have been reported so far this year, about half of them in Texas. In an average year, fewer than 300 cases are reported by mid-August. There have also been 41 deaths this year. Since it was first detected in the U.S., 252 New Yorkers have been diagnosed with West Nile Virus.
Don't be surprised if this isn't the last spraying in Brooklyn: as you can see in the report above, the West Nile Virus has been detected in zip codes covering Prospect Heights, Prospect Park, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Bushwick. You can keep up to date on the DOH's spraying schedule here.
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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