Mosquitoes collected earlier this month from Riverhead and Aquebogue tested positive for West Nile virus, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said today.
Sixteen mosquito samples collected across the county on July 9 and 10, including one collected from Aquebogue and one collected from Riverhead, were infected with the virus, which can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, the county agency said in a press release. There have been no West Nile virus cases in humans reported this season.
Other samples that tested positive were from Cold Spring Harbor (1), Melville (1), Lindenhurst (2), Holbrook (1), Port Jefferson Station (2), Bohemia (1), Commack (2), Nesconset (3) and Rocky Point (1).
West Nile virus was first detected in bird and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and have been detected every year since. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and most people infected with the virus experience mild or no symptoms, the press release states. However, some people can develop severe symptoms — including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis — which may last several weeks and have permanent neurological effects.
“The confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area,” Suffolk County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott said in a press release. “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.”
Individuals can avoid mosquito bites by minimizing outdoor activities between dusk and dawn; wearing shoes and socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts when mosquitoes are active; using mosquito repellent; and making sure all windows and doors have screens, Pigott said. People 50 years or older and people with compromised immune systems are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Dead birds may indicate the presence of the West Nile virus in the area, the health department said. Report dead birds to the Bureau of Public Health Protection at 631-852-5999 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents are encouraged to take a photograph of 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.
Last year, the county had 99 positive mosquito samples and five human cases of the virus, according to the county health department. Suffolk County has reported 32 mosquito samples positive for West Nile virus this season.
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