More Mosquito Samples Test Postive for West Nile

Suffolk County Department of Health announced Thursday that four mosquito samples taken Aug. 18 and 19, including one from Smithtown, have tested positive for West Nile virus.

The latest results bring the total number of infected mosquitoes found in Suffolk County this year up to 65. In addition, 24 birds and one person in Suffolk County have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to county health officials.

Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtownearlier this summer after mosquito samples caught in the park tested positive.

To minimize the risk of contracting West Nile, the county advised residents to minimize activity outdoors between dusk and dawn, use mosquito repellant, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors during periods of mosquito activity, and make sure windows and doors have screens in good repair.

The county also issued tips for residents to employ to reduce the mosquito population around their homes, including:

• Remove items like tin cans, ceramic pots, plastic containers, and tires which act as water-holding devices;
• Clean clogged gutters and make sure they drain properly;
• Frequently change the water in birdbaths;
• Turn over items like wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use;
• Keep shrubs and grass trimmed, and keep vegetation and debris away from the edges of ponds;
• Drain water from pool covers;
• Make sure swimming pools, hot tubs, and outdoor saunas are clean and chlorinated.

Residents who find a dead bird should call the county's West Nile hotline at 631-787-2200  between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mosquito problems and stagnant pools of water can be reported to the Department of Public Works' Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

For medical questions pertaining to West Nile virus, residents can call 631-853-3055 or visit the Department of Health Services website.