Renewed warning about West Nile-infected mosquitoes

Issue of Sept. 5, 2008

[UPDATE: On Wednesday afternoon, a day after The Jewish Star's press deadline, the Nassau County Department of Health announced larvacide spraying by truck in Woodmere to take place at dusk on Thursday and Friday, with additional spraying possible next week. For more information call 888-844-8657 or go online to www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health]

The Nassau County Department of Health has issued an end-of-summer call for increased vigilance in preventing mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites, after two deaths in the county blamed on West Nile Virus, and four reports of illness, including one in West Hempstead.

“People should certainly take precautions,” said Cynthia Brown, a spokeswoman for the health department. “People should be aware but not stop any activity that they had planned. Whenever there is a death or illness there is major concern, but there is no reason to panic.”

A 75-year old Carle Place man developed fever and extreme weakness on Aug. 5, was hospitalized on Aug. 11 and died on Aug. 25 of West Nile virus. An 80-year-old New Hyde Park woman had fever, vomiting and neck stiffness on Aug. 20, was hospitalized Aug. 2l and died Aug. 24, probably of West Nile virus, according to the health department. New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratory is testing to confirm the diagnoses. Other suspected or reported patients are recovering at home.

Brown called on Nassau County residents to inspect around their own homes and get business and neighbors involved. She noted that the house mosquito, culex pipiens, is the primary carrier of the virus.

“They fly about 200 feet from their breeding sites,” she emphasized. “If you remove the breeding sites you will be removing the possibility of mosquitoes hatching and getting West Nile virus from biting a bird, a reservoir of the virus,” said Brown.

She pointed out that mosquitoes will bite any warm-blooded mammal; the females need the blood for protein so they can produce eggs. “Empty standing water, stagnant fresh water, to eliminate possible breeding sites and to eliminate this particular mosquito,” she added.

The Department of Public Works launched an “aggressive, targeted program” delivering a chemical that prevents mosquitoes from hatching, explained Brown. She said that residents can report bodies of stagnant water, noting a case of a home swimming pool left filled over the summer with the owners away. After an investigation, larvicide “good for 90 days” was put in the pool.

“We are working to keep mosquito counts down in Nassau County,” she said. “They’re down now but that doesn’t mean they will be down tomorrow. The virus is increasing now because the mosquitoes start to bulk up, they get pollen and blood from birds to lay eggs for the next generation. It increases later in the season versus the number of mosquitoes because it is getting cold.” She said that the virus is found in more of the existing mosquito population at the end of the summer than at the beginning of the season.

Nassau County Commissioner of Health Dr. Maria Torroella Carney outlined steps to take to eliminate hatching sites: empty standing water from anything that can hold water, such as garbage cans and swimming pool covers, ensure that roof gutters drain well and clean gutters in the spring and fall, chlorinate swimming pools, check screens, wear long sleeves and pants outside at dawn and dusk, and apply insect repellent with DEET according to directions.

“Of course we sympathize with the families,” said Brown, “every death is cause for concern. We are not making light of it, but more people die in automobile crashes. Reduce the habitat for mosquitoes and take precautions, but do not stop what you have planned.”