Politics & Government
Local Mosquito Samples Test Positive for West Nile
Suffolk County Department of Health has collected 30 positive samples this summer.
The Suffolk County Department of Health said Thursday that six more mosquito samples from Suffolk County, including one sample from East Setauket, one from Port Jefferson Station and one from Rocky Point, have tested positive for West Nile virus.
This group of Culex pipiens-restuans mosquitoes was collected July 28 by the SCDHS's Public Health Division, and brings the total of infected mosquitoes found in Suffolk County to 30 so far this year. According to the county, 12 birds have tested positive for the virus, and one person in the Town of Huntington has contracted the virus and recovered.
“The confirmation of West Nile virus in a mosquito pool indicates that the virus is actively circulating within the mosquito population,” said Dr. James Tomarken, health services commissioner. “We urge residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus, which can be debilitating to humans.”
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Last summer, were found in the Three Village area.
The county advised residents to minimize activity outdoors between dusk and dawn, use mosquito repellant, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors during periods of mosquito activity, and make sure windows and doors have screens in good repair. The county also issued tips for residents to employ to reduce the mosquito population around their homes, including:
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- Remove items like tin cans, ceramic pots, plastic containers, and tires which act as water-holding devices;
- Clean clogged gutters and make sure they drain properly;
- Frequently change the water in birdbaths;
- Turn over items like wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use;
- Keep shrubs and grass trimmed, and keep vegetation and debris away from the edges of ponds;
- Drain water from pool covers;
- Make sure swimming pools, hot tubs, and outdoor saunas are clean and chlorinated.
The county also advised that dead birds may indicate the presence of West Nile, and anyone who finds a dead bird should call the county's West Nile hotline at 631-787-2200 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mosquito problems and stagnant pools of water can be reported to the county at 631-852-4270. For medical questions pertaining to West Nile virus, residents can call 631-853-3055 or visit the Department of Health Services website.
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