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Eastchester REVIEW THE

August 4, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 31 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Astorino announces opioid task force By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Twenty-one SUNY Purchase College students meet with the Dalai Lama as part of their study abroad trip in India. For story, see page 13. 7. Photo courtesy Carly Sorenson

Mosquitoes with West Nile virus found in Westchester This season’s first batch of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in Westchester has been confirmed by the Westchester County Department of Health. The area surrounding the positive mosquito batch in Mount Vernon has been inspected by the health department, which has treated nearby catch basins that to protect against further mosquito breeding nearby. “West Nile virus has been present in the Hudson Valley for many years, so this season’s first positive should remind residents to protect themselves and their families by removing standing water around their homes every week and by using repellents daily when spending significant time outdoors,” said County Executive Rob Astorino. “As a county, our proactive and comprehensive strategy to combat mosquito-borne illnesses has proven ef-

fective, and includes advice and resources for our residents.” As of July 20, when the first positive batch was confirmed in Westchester, 163 batches of mosquitoes from Westchester were tested for West Nile virus by the New York State Department of Health. The state health department has identified 99 positive mosquito pools throughout New York so far this year. Symptoms of West Nile encephalitis, a severe infection, usually occur from three to 14 days following the bite and include high fever, headache, confusion, muscle aches and weakness, seizures, or paralysis. Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. People over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for a severe disease. West Nile virus is not to be confused with Zika. To date, no

mosquitoes in New York State have tested positive for Zika and there have been no locally-acquired cases. “We will continue to monitor mosquito activity,” said Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler. “We recommend that residents take personal protection measures and remain vigilant in removing standing water on their property where mosquitoes can breed.” Amler said that favorite mosquito breeding sites include buckets, plant pot saucers, clogged gutters, pet bowls, old tires, as well as children’s pools and toys. Residents should also minimize spending time outdoors at dawn and dusk, and apply insect repellents according to the label directions when enjoying activities outside. In addition to larviciding, the county also gave away free fat-

head minnows and mosquito dunks to residents this spring. The minnows help to curtail the mosquito population in ponds and water by feeding on mosquito larvae and pupae before they develop into adult mosquitoes. The mosquito dunks serve the same purpose in birdbaths, rain barrels and unused pools. Free mosquito dunks are still available, and residents can make arrangements to pick them up by calling 8135000. Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property that could serve as potential mosquito breeding grounds should report it to the health department by calling 8135000 or emailing hweb@westchestergov.com. For more information about preventing West Nile virus, visit health.westchestergov.com/west-nile-virus. (Submitted)

On the heels of the recently formed initiative, Project WORTHY, designed to help combat a growing opioid epidemic in Westchester, the county has introduced a task force that aims to focalize police resources toward a crackdown on dealers. The task force will conjoin members of the county’s Public Safety Department, prosecutors, criminal investigators and local police chiefs in an effort to both assess and confront the problem of opioid abuse through the use of data and targeted enforcement. “It’s not enough to put our best resources into the fight against opioid addiction,” said County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. “They must be coordinated, and that’s the idea behind the task force.” According to Astorino, who announced the coalition together with District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, a Democrat, and Public Safety Commissioner George Longworhth on July 27, the district attorney’s office will also dedicate three analysts to help the task force compile data and trends regarding the opioid crisis. Data presented through Project WORTHY, which stands for Westchester Opioid Response Team Helping You, shows that Westchester has been anything but immune to the growing crisis of drug abuse. According to statistics collected between 2010 and 2015, the number of fatal opioid overdoses in the county has risen dramatically, jumping 200 percent in five years from 27 to 83. That trend is mirrored on the national level where in 2015, the National Institute on Drug Abuse

recorded more than 52,000 opioid related fatalities across the country. Contributing to the rise in both heroin and opioid related overdoses has been the rise of the often fatal drug fentanyl; its potency has been known to cause overdoses just by coming into contact with one’s skin. Scarpino said, in addition to tracking and understanding the problem through statistics, increased coordination through the task force will also result in more arrests and ultimately the removal of heroin through the prosecution of dealers. “The task force is dedicated to going after dealers, not users,” he said. One way the task force hopes to accomplish a crackdown on dealers, Scarpino said, is by assisting local police departments—outfits which may otherwise lack the necessary resources—in their investigations of illegal drug distribution and enforcement. “Individual police departments that determine that heroin and opioid dealers are operating in their communities will be able to call upon these dedicated resources to assist them in their investigation,” he said. “Note that I said ‘assist them.’ We are not going to take over their investigation.” Scarpino said that while the task force is ready to move forward, its role in helping mitigate a growing drug crisis is fluid, and will likely be a “learning process.” In addition to the assembling of a task force, the county also formalized an Overdose Response Initiative, ORI, last year, which is meant to track and investigate any suspected overdose in OPIOID continued on page 9