Mosquito Spraying on Long Island

West Nile Cases 2010

July 5: A 66-year-old female from New Hyde Park became ill with a headache, weakness, fever and blurry vision. She is recovering at home.

July 16: A Town of Babylon woman between the ages of 75 and 85 became ill with dizziness, fever, nausea, vomiting and a rash. She was hospitalized and is currently recovering in a physical rehabilitation center.

July 19: A Town of Huntington man between the ages of 70 and 80 became ill and is currently hospitalized.

July 28: A 74-year-old female from Massapequa Park became ill with symptoms of fever and altered mental status. She was discharged from the hospital on Aug. 5 and is recovering at home.

Aug. 6: A Town of Babylon woman between the ages of 70 and 80 became ill with fever, weakness and mental status changes and is currently hospitalized.

Keeping Mosquitoes Away

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following:

Use Insect Repellent
Apply exposed skin when you go outdoors. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite.

Wear Protective Clothing
When weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don’t apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours
The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning—or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.

Drain Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water.

Install or Repair Screens
Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors. Offer to help neighbors whose screens might be in bad shape.

Report Dead Birds to Local Authorities
Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile Virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area. By reporting dead birds to state and local health departments, you can play an important role in monitoring West Nile Virus.