The New York State Department of Health has diagnosed the seventh Nassau County resident with West Nile virus. The patient is a 79-year old woman who resides in Hicksville. She became ill on September 14th with fever, headache and altered mental status and was hospitalized the same day. She remains hospitalized.

All six prior Nassau County cases have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering. They are: a 69-year old Plainview man; a 77- year old man from Mineola; an 83-year old woman from Massapequa; a 19-year old Hempstead man; an 68-year old woman from Rockville Centre and a 41-year old man from Hicksville.

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

At this time, Nassau County has no plans to spray for adult mosquitoes.

Commissioner of Health, David M. Ackman, MD, MPH, said: "Although West Nile remains a disease that primarily affects the elderly, we recommend that everyone 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 outdoors 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 9:00 a.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.