West Nile Virus Found In Holbrook Mosquito Sample

HOLBROOK, NY — A mosquito sample collected on July 14 in Holbrook has tested positive for the West Nile virus — the third such sample in Suffolk County to test positive this season, officials said Friday.

Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said that the confirmation of the West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of the 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 said.

West Nile, which has made a yearly appearance in Suffolk since first being detected in birds and mosquito samples in 1999, can be transmitted to people by a bite from 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, according to county officials.

The symptoms can also last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent, so 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, officials said.

Dr. Pigott offered these 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.
• Download a copy of Suffolk County’s informational brochure “Get the Buzz on Mosquito Protection,” available in English and Spanish, and share it with your community.

Dead birds can indicate West Nile in the area. To report them, call the Bureau of Public Health Protection at 631-852-5999 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents are also encouraged to take a photograph of any bird in question.

To report mosquito infestations or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270. For more information, go to the Department of Health’s website.