Twenty-One New Mosquito Samples Test Positive For West Nile Virus In Suffolk County

Press release from the Suffolk County Government:

September 3, 2021

To date this season, 92 mosquito samples and four birds have tested positive for West Nile virus.

West Nile virus, first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, but some can develop severe symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. The symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Individuals, especially those 50 years of age or older, or those with compromised immune systems, who are most at risk, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

“Due to recent heavy rainfall, we are concerned that standing water and summer temperatures will allow mosquitoes to proliferate,” said Dr. Pigott. “While there is no cause for alarm, we ask residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.”

Dr. Pigott offers the following tips to avoid mosquito bites:

For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website.

This press release was produced by the Suffolk County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.