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How New Yorkers Can Help Protect the City from West Nile Virus
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani

As the weather gets warmer, many of our thoughts turn to baseball, barbeques, walks in the park, and other enjoyable outdoor activities. I would like to ask you to consider another outdoor activity during this Spring and Summer -- taking steps to protect yourself and your neighbors from the possible return of West Nile virus.

Last summer, West Nile virus appeared for the first time in New York City. In fact, the disease had never before been seen in the United States. Although it was unprecedented, New York City worked rapidly to respond. All involved -- including our City Health Department, Office of Emergency Management, and State and Federal officials -- should be commended for their efforts. Together we were very effective in limiting the scope of this outbreak.

With the possibility that West Nile virus could return this year, a comprehensive plan has been developed to protect New Yorkers. Our efforts emphasize prevention activities that include: monitoring for the presence of West Nile virus in birds, mosquitoes, and people; a citywide effort to identify and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites; and a multifaceted public education and outreach campaign to provide timely and accurate information about West Nile-related activities.

Because West Nile virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito, and not from one person to another, eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites around homes and communities will greatly help us prevent or limit the impact of this virus. With this in mind, there are several easy steps that you can take around your home throughout the time of year that mosquitoes are active (April-October) to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites:

• Remove all discarded tires from your property and dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, and similar water-holding containers. In addition, turn over objects that can collect water, such as plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the Spring and Fall.
• Eliminate any standing or stagnant water that collects on your property.
  
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. In addition, drain water from pool covers.
• Change the water in bird baths once a week
• Report areas of standing water that cannot be drained to the Health Department's 24-hour automated West Nile Information Line: 212-227-5269.

Mosquitoes tend to be active during the hours between dusk and dawn. While it is not necessary to restrict outdoor activities or take precautions against mosquitoes during the day, the Health Department recommends that you take the following precautions from dusk until dawn:

• Minimize outdoor activities during these hours, when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite.
• If you are outdoors during these hours, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.
  
• Consider using insect repellants with no more than 30% DEET (the active ingredient) during the hours when mosquitoes are most active. Use 10% or less DEET for children. Do not use DEET on infants.
  
• Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or openings.

Public education and outreach is an important part of our plan to combat West Nile virus. We are conducting outreach to elected officials, community groups, and other organizations while making information available through television, radio, the Health Department's website, and printed materials in several languages. Our goal is to provide timely information about our activities and to let New Yorkers know what they can do to assist our efforts.

To learn more about West Nile virus, you can call the West Nile Information Line for general information about the virus, or for current information on West Nile you can access the Health Department's website at www.nyc.gov/health.

I want to thank New Yorkers for their cooperation. Working together, we can play an active role in helping to protect our City from West Nile virus.