Politics & Government
LI Horse, 2 Birds, Tests Positive For West Nile Virus: Suffolk County Health Department
To date this year, 92 mosquito samples, three birds and one horse have tested positive for West Nile virus.
![15 more mosquito samples have also tested positive for West Nile virus, the health department said.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/25459216/20230919/120247/styles/patch_image/public/mosquito___19115705268.jpg)
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott announced that a horse, two birds, and 15 more mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus.
The horse, of Central Islip, tested positive for the virus and is recovering from symptoms associated with the virus. Two Blue Jays — one from Kings Park and one from Riverhead — also tested positive for West Nile virus.
The samples, all Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected on from September 5– 7, 2023, from Lindenhurst (4), Melville (1), Dix Hills (1) Bay Shore (1), Nesconset (1) Setauket (1) Selden (1) Holbrook (3) Sayville (1) and Shelter Island (1).
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To date this year, 92 mosquito samples, have tested positive for West Nile virus; one mosquito sample tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus.
Two humans have tested positive for West Nile virus in Suffolk County this year. Both are continuing to recover, Pigott said. In addition, a crow tested positive for the virus earlier this month.
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West Nile virus, first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter, is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Suffolk County reported 11 cases of West Nile virus in 2022 and 8 in 2021. Nine people have died from West Nile virus since 2000.
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. The symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Individuals, especially those 50 years or older or those with compromised immune systems, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Jamestown Canyon virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Fever, headache and fatigue are common symptoms of Jamestown Canyon virus. Symptoms of severe disease may include stiff neck, confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, or seizures. There are no vaccines to prevent the virus. The treatment is supportive care.
Though Suffolk County has no reported cases of Jamestown Canyon virus, this virus has been isolated in mosquito samples in 2008, 2017 and 2022. Residents are advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. More information on Jamestown Canyon virus can be found on the CDC website.
Pigott offers the following 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 may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the area. To report dead birds, call 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.
For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website.
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