New York spraying for mosquitoes amid West Nile virus concerns

New York City began spraying for mosquitoes in some neighborhoods Monday night to mitigate the risk of West Nile virus, as concerns about the spreading of the mosquito-borne disease grew.

Trucks from the city's health department rolled out to spray pesticides in Central Park and Upper Manhattan neighborhoods between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The mass pesticide application will continue in parts of Brooklyn on Wednesday, including Bay Ridge and Coney Island, NYC's Department of Health (DOH) said.

The West Nile virus is a disease that most commonly spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Over 280 cases of West Nile have been identified among 33 U.S. states so far this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The symptoms of West Nile virus include body aches, diarrhea, fever, headache and vomiting. Among the most serious complications are meningitis, paralysis and even death.

New York City has confirmed six West Nile cases this year. All those infected are doing well and have not been hospitalized, but health officials are concerned that the transmission of the virus may increase from summertime into fall.

The city is continuing to monitor mosquito populations during the summer. The DOH sent out staff to 50 locations to trap and test mosquitoes, and found the number of mosquitoes with West Nile virus ticked up across the board this summer throughout the five boroughs of the city.

"The recent data is showing if we don't spray, the transmission to human may occur," said Waheed Bajwa, DOH's executive director of vector surveillance. "We are focusing on areas where there is a high chance of disease transmission."

Health officials have also urged residents to eliminate stagnant water from their property to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding.