Health department officials said no Suffolk residents have tested positive this year for the virus, which can be fatal. West Nile was first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and has been identified in the county every year since. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.
On Tuesday at about 11:30 p.m., the county's department of public works sprayed all streets north of North Country Road from Hallock Landing Road east to Shoreham with an aerosol application designed to combat the spread of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control said that there has been only one reported case of a human contracting West Nile Virus in all of New York State this year. Meanwhile, there have been 58 cases of West Nile virus nationwide, including deaths in Mississippi and Texas.
In 2008, there were 46 reported cases of West Nile across the state, including six deaths.
Despite the positive test on the mosquito pool, health officials urged residents to remain calm.
“The confirmation of West Nile virus in a mosquito pool indicates that the virus is actively circulating within the mosquito population,” county health Commissioner Dr. Humayun Chaudhry said in a statement issued Monday. “While there is no cause for alarm, we urge residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus, which can be debilitating to humans.”
The county said one measure residents can take to prevent infection is to attempt to reduce the mosquito population around their homes. In an effort to help residents do so, the health department offered the following suggestions:
• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.
• Remove all discarded tires on the property.
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters.
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Change the water in birdbaths.
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds and keep shrubs and grass trimmed.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.
• Drain water from pool covers.
Most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, but some can develop such severe symptoms as high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, Dr. Chaudhry said. The symptoms may last several weeks, and neurologic effects may be permanent, he said.
The county asked that residents — especially those over 50 or with compromised immune systems — to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Suggestions for limiting exposure include using mosquito repellent, wearing clothing that covers your skin and spending less time outside.
gparpan@northshoresun.com
Have something to report?
Dead birds may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in an area. To report dead birds, call the West Nile virus hot line in Suffolk County at (631) 787-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the department of public works' vector control division at (631) 852-4270.
For medical questions related to West Nile virus, call (631) 853-3055.
For further information on West Nile virus, visit the department of health online at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health