Mosquito Prevention Begins Monday in New Rochelle

Mosquitoes beware: The county is gunning for you.

Starting Monday, in New Rochelle, Yonkers and Mount Vernon, Westchester County Health Department larviciding teams will begin checking catch basins on county and municipal roads for standing water. The process will continue over the next few months.

Street catch basins, because they can contain standing water and organic debris, have been documented as ideal breeding spots for mosquitoes, particularly those that spread West Nile virus.

County officials ask residents to help by eliminating standing water from their properties, especially after rain. If there are large areas of standing water on public property that can't be easily removed, people should report that to the Health Department at 914-813-5000.

"Through the combined efforts of residents and county government, we can successfully curb the mosquito population and keep cases of West Nile Virus to a minimum," said Sherlita Amler, commissioner of health. "We must all do our part to keep mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus from breeding in Westchester."

She recommended residents survey their property and empty standing water from any discarded tires, unchlorinated swimming pools, outdoor pottery, rain gutters, pails, birdbaths or other containers. This should be done throughout the spring and summer.

Certified environmental health staff will begin on Monday evaluating the catch basins and, if necessary, applying briquettes of a long-term larvicide in them.
Treated catch basins will be identified by a bright orange dot spray-painted on the pavement near the catch basin. Two orange dots will indicate the catch basin has been checked out, but does not need treatment because it isn't holding water.

For more information about larviciding and West Nile Virus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health, follow the Health Department on Twitter or call the Health Department at 914-813-5000.