The New York State Department of Health has diagnosed the fifth Nassau County resident with West Nile virus. The patient is a 68-year old woman who resides in Rockville Centre. She became ill on September 1st with fever, nausea and altered mental status and was hospitalized on September 2nd. Her condition has improved and she was released from the hospital on September 11th.

All four prior Nassau County cases have recovered or are recovering at home: the first case was a 69-year old Plainview man; the second case was a 77- year old man from Mineola; the third case was an 83-year old woman from Massapequa; the fourth patient is a 19-year old Hempstead man.

The Nassau County Departments of Health and Public Works have intensified mosquito surveillance activities in the Rockville Centre area as well as in Baldwin, Massapequa, Mineola and Plainview areas. They are inspecting for breeding sites and, when necessary, will apply larvicide.

As reported yesterday, due to the increased numbers of human-biting mosquitoes collected from trap sites where the West Nile virus was found previously, limited ground spraying with Scourge (resmethrin) by truck will begin tonight in the Woodbury area between 8:00 p.m. - midnight.

Commissioner of Health, David M. Ackman, MD, MPH, said: " Although West Nile remains a disease that primarily affects the elderly, we recommend that everyone, especially those over 50, should take reasonable precautions to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. Mosquito season will be with us until there are two good frosts." Residents should remember to:

• Remove or empty standing water from old tires, garbage cans, or any object that can hold water
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall
• Keep swimming pools chlorinated and their covers free of stagnant water
• Change the water in birdbaths every two or three days
• Keep window and door screens in good repair
• Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito repellent (according to directions) when outdoor where mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and from dusk to dawn

Please continue to report dead birds to the New York State Hotline toll free number at 1-866-537-2473 on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or to the Department of Health Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. at (516) 571-8707. Most of the reported birds will not be collected. To call about a mosquito problem, call 571-8707 weekdays from 9:00a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Residents can hear the latest information about West Nile virus by dialing 571-2500. The information is available in English and Spanish 24 hours a day. In addition, West Nile information may be found on the County website at www.NassauCountyNY.gov/health.