Leg. Bosworth: Nassau County Mosquito Trapping and Surveillance for West Nile Virus Is In Full Swing

Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck) wants to let residents of the 10th Legislative District know that the Nassau County Departments of Health and Public Works continue their mosquito surveillance and control activities for West Nile Virus as they work together to help control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, and with the recent debilitating storm, residents need to be mindful of removing pools of stagnant water as they continue to repair their property and restore normalcy.

Last year, upon Legislator Bosworth’s initiative, the Nassau County Legislature amended the law to require the Health Department to provide 24 hours notice to legislators and major news outlets, notice on the Health Department website, and 24 hours notice for any rescheduled spraying of pesticides in the event that a public health threat necessitates spraying. The law also requires the establishment of a Mosquito Spraying Hotline. Legislative offices will now be notified as soon as the County Health Department requests that the state declare a public health threat to allow them time to prepare to help with constituent notification.

“The goal is to work together to obviate the need to spray. If there is a need to spray, every effort will be made to ensure that isolated targeted areas are treated with truck spraying as opposed to aerial spraying,” Legislator Bosworth said. “If aerial or truck spraying is necessary to ensure the safety of Nassau County residents, legislators are now required by law to receive advance notification, allowing us to be prepared adequately to address constituent concerns. The Health Department also will post data on their website about the pesticide being applied so residents will have access to the same information given to the county employees who actually apply the pesticide.”

Legislator Bosworth encourages everyone in the county to work together to ensure that mosquitoes are not given the opportunity to proliferate. Mosquitoes can breed in stagnant standing water that sits for more than a few days. Therefore, especially in light of the recent rainstorms, she urges all residents to survey their property after rainfall and to:
• Remove or empty standing water from children’s outdoor toys, flower pots, garbage cans, pails, old tires, or any object that can hold water.
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly; 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.
• Install window and door screens and keep them in good repair.
• Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito repellent (according to directions) when outdoors when mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and from dusk to dawn.

For mosquito problems, stagnant water or a drainage problem, residents can call the Nassau County Department of Public Works at: (516) 572-1166, weekdays from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.
For additional information residents may call Nassau County Department of Health Mosquito Surveillance at (516) 572-1211, weekdays from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.

New York State Department of Health no longer recommends the collection and submission of dead birds for West Nile Virus testing. Nassau County Department of Health will no longer record reports of dead birds or collect dead birds for testing.

Additional West Nile Virus information may be found on the Nassau County Department of Health website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html