Nassau County Department of Health announced on Wednesday the county’s first isolation of West Nile virus (WNV) from a mosquito pool. The virus was identified in a sample of Culex pipiens-restuans mosquitoes, collected on June 30 in Bethpage and test results were confirmed today by the New York State Department of Health.
To date, no humans have tested positive for West Nile virus in Nassau County.
The Nassau County Departments of Health and Public Works will continue their mosquito control efforts by inspecting breeding sites and, when necessary, applying larvicide. Mosquito surveillance will continue at 42 trap sites located throughout the county, and will be intensified in the Bethpage area.
--Remove or empty standing water from children’s outdoor toys, flower pots, garbage cans, pails, old tires, or any object that can hold water.
--Make sure roof gutters drain properly; clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
--Keep swimming pools chlorinated and their covers free of stagnant water.
--Change the water in birdbaths every two or three days.
--Install window and door screens and keep them in good repair.
--Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito repellent (according to directions) if outdoors when mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and evening hours.
--Decorative ponds and water features should be circulated or chlorinated if they do not contain fish to prevent mosquito breeding.
For mosquito, stagnant water, or drainage problems, call the Nassau County Department of Public Works at: (516) 572-1166, weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 pm.
For additional information on West Nile virus activity, contact Nassau County Department of Health at: (516) 572-1211, weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 pm. Additional West Nile virus information may be found on the Nassau County Department of Health website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/westnile.html