Sep 4, 2008 8:38 pm US/Eastern
WARNING: West Nile Spraying Set To Begin In Nassau
Local Woman To CBS 2: It Should Have Been Done Sooner
CARLE PLACE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Mosquitoes are spreading the deadly West Nile virus in Nassau County. So far there have been 10 reported infections this year and three recent deaths possibly linked to the disease.
Starting Thursday night a plane will spray between the Long Island Expressway and the Southern State Parkway, and from the Queens border to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway.
But for one woman, the spraying comes too late.
"He's the hero, my husband," Barbara Cody said. "But what he went through, I am so sorry for what he went through..."
Cody buried her husband, George, on Saturday, after he lost a painful, debilitating battle with the West Nile virus. Doctors believe Cody was bitten by an infected mosquito near his Carle Place plumbing business. And since then the number of infected mosquito pools has grown to 49 in Nassau County, the most in the state.
"In combination with our recent increase in mosquito populations that are positive for West Nile virus, and the fact that we have 10 human cases, puts us in category of having an imminent public health threat," said Dr. Maria Carney, Nassau County Health Commissioner.
So beginning at dusk Thursday, both by truck and by air, central Nassau will be sprayed with the pesticide Scourge.
This hasn't been done here in nearly 10 years, since the widespread outcry from shell fishermen and environmentalists about dangers posed by pesticides.
"People need to be very aggressive about not coming into contact with this aerial spray children should be brought indoors," said Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign For The Environment. "Close windows and doors -- put air conditioners on recycle."
The Citizens Campaign hopes the spraying will be done only in a limited, targeted and focused area. Barbara Cody wishes it had been done months before.
" And there was no answer. It was so unnecessary," she said. "There should have been some type of [spraying] program."
Spraying, Nassau County claims, is a last resort.
The county urges residents to help by getting rid of standing water, wear proper clothing, and get rid of stagnant water tag. The spraying will begin at dusk and last several hours. For questions or concerns, please call Nassau's West Nile virus mosquito control hotline at 1-888-844-8657.
The spraying will begin at dusk and will last for several hours.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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