Watch Hill Mosquito Sample Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

Date: September 28, 2015
Contact: Michael Bilecki, 631-687-4760
Contact: Elizabeth Rogers, 631-687-4766

Patchogue, NY - Fire Island National Seashore Superintendent Chris Soller announced today that a mosquito sample collected September 16 tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The mosquitoes were collected as part of the Seashore's weekly Mosquito Monitoring Program, which will be extended into October in response to this detection. The program is a collaborative effort between the Seashore and Suffolk County Department of Health Services.

WNV is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Visitors should take precautions to reduce exposure to the virus by avoiding areas with high densities of mosquitoes. If contact with mosquitoes is unavoidable, it is advisable to:

• Minimize outdoor activities when mosquitoes are active.
• Wear protective clothing including long sleeved shirts, socks, and long pants.
• Use an effective insect repellent, such as one containing at least 30% DEET. 
• Close all windows and doors and check screens.

If risks to human health are identified, actions to protect the public may include control methods such as larviciding, spraying, or area closures. The National Park Service works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Suffolk County Vector Control, Suffolk County Department of Health, and local Fire Island and Long Island municipalities to determine the best course of action to protect residents, visitors, and employees of the Seashore.

For general information on WNV, please contact your local health department. Information can also be obtained from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, or fromNew York StateorSuffolk CountyHealth Department websites. If you have information or questions for the park please contact our headquarters at [phone].