Politics & Government

More Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile

Infected insects found in East Northport, Greenlawn and elsewhere.

More mosquitoes in the Huntington area have tested positive for the West Nile virus, Suffolk County reported Monday.

Commissioner James Tomarken said that 22 mosquito samples have tested positive for the virus. The samples, all Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected between Aug. 27-Aug.30 locations in Huntington (1), Huntington Station (1), Greenlawn (1), East Northport (2), Dix Hills (1), Copiague (1), Lindenhurst (1), West Babylon (2), West Islip (1) Nesconset (3), Bay Shore (1) West Bay Shore (1) Bohemia (1), Selden (1), Holtville (1) East Setauket (1), Patchogue (1) and Jamesport (1).

So far this year, 148 mosquito samples and four birds have tested positive for West Nile virus. No humans or horses have tested positive for West Nile virus in Suffolk County this year.

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West Nile virus, first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter through 2012, is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

“The confirmation of West Nile virus in a mosquito pool indicates that the virus is actively circulating within the mosquito population,”  Tomarken said. “While there is no cause for alarm, we urge residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus which can be debilitating to humans.”

Find out what's happening in Northportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tomarken said 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 who are most at risk, those 50 years of age or older or those with compromised immune systems, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. 


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