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This is the first mosquito batch in Westchester County to test positive for the virus this year. The batch was collected in Rye Brook by County Health Department staff and sent to the New York State Department of Health for testing. The county will continue mosquito surveillance in the area and throughout the county, including mosquito trapping and testing, as well as surveying catch basins for mosquito larvae and standing water. No standing water was found where the positive mosquitoes were trapped, and in the surrounding neighborhood 62 catch basins were reinspected and 10 were retreated with larvicide.
Last year 29 mosquito batches in Westchester County tested positive for West Nile Virus and four human cases were reported. The first positive mosquito batch was discovered last year in late June, which is earlier than usual, according to the county Health Department. So far no human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Westchester this year.
The County Health Department recommends that residents:
- Avoid the outdoors in the late afternoon and early evening when mosquitoes are active and feeding. Use insect repellents when outdoors during these times, and be sure to follow the instructions on the label. Adults can apply insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET on infants over 2 months of age by applying the product to their own hands and then rubbing their hands on their children. Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under 2 months of age.
- Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks when outdoors in areas and at times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.
- Check around their property for tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that should be discarded or turned over to prevent collecting water.
- Check and remove standing water from children’s toys and play houses left outside.
- Remove discarded tires
- Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors
- Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets and wheelbarrows when not in use
- Change the water in birdbaths at least twice weekly
- Sweep driveways after it rains to clear puddles
- Keep storm drains and gutters clear of leaves and debris
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas and hot tubs and drain water that collects on their covers.
Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property that could serve as potential mosquito breeding grounds should contact the Westchester Health Department at 914-813-5000 or contact the department through its website.
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