9 Mosquito Samples, 1 Bird Positive For West Nile Virus In Suffolk

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Eight mosquito samples and one bird have tested positive for West Nile virus, Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said Friday.

The samples included eight Culex pipiens-restuans that were collected on Aug. 16. That number includes one each from Copiague, Cold Spring Harbor, Dix Hills, West Babylon, and Sayville, and three from Lindenhurst.

The ninth sample was collected on Aug. 17 and is a West Nile Virus-Positive Culex salinarius sample from Nesconset.

One bird tested positive for the virus, which was collected on Aug. 25 from Huntington Station.

So far, 68 samples have tested positive, according to officials.

Pigott said that "the confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area.”

“While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases,” he added.

The West Nile virus, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, was first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk in 1999, and then again yearly.

Most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild to no symptoms, but others 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.

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

• Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
• Wear shoes and socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts when mosquitoes are active.
• Use mosquito repellent, following label directions carefully.
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.
• Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs inside and outside of your home.
• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out containers that hold water, such as vases, pet water bowls, flowerpot saucers, discarded tires, buckets, pool covers, birdbaths, trash cans, and rain barrels.

You can download a copy of Suffolk’s informational brochure “Get the Buzz on Mosquito Protection,” which is available in English and Spanish, and share it with your community.
Dead birds may indicate the presence of the West Nile virus in your area. To report dead birds, call the Bureau of Public Health Protection at631-852-5999 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Residents are also encouraged to photograph any bird in question. To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

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