West Nile Virus Detected On Fire Island National Seashore: Officials

FIRE ISLAND, NY — West Nile virus has been detected in mosquito samples taken on Aug. 28 from traps at the Carrington Tract and Watch Hill at Fire Island National Seashore, officials said Friday.

This is the third and fourth case in the seashore this year, following previous detections at both sites, according to officials.

Seven people have contracted West Nile this summer.

Carrington Tract is a federal tract of land between Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove and Watch Hill is a federal tract of land between Davis Park and the Fire Island Wilderness area.

The mosquitoes were collected on Aug. 28 from traps set by the seashore as part of its mosquito monitoring program. It is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and Suffolk County Department of Health Services – Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory that helps the park assess risk levels and select actions for public safety.

The National Park Service, along with Suffolk, will continue its weekly surveillance program to monitor the severity and extent of West Nile Virus within the boundaries of the seashore. Consistent with the seashore’s mosquito monitoring protocols, there will be increased surveillance at the Carrington Tract and Watch Hill, where West Nile Virus was detected.

If threats to human health are found, actions to protect the public may need to include control
methods such as larviciding, spraying, or area closures.

The National Park Service works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation, Suffolk, and local Fire Island and Long Island municipalities to determine the best course of action to protect residents, visitors, and employees of the Seashore.

The public will be notified 24 hours in advance of any spray event.

West Nile Virus 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 like long-sleeved shirts, socks, and long pants and use effective insect repellent, such as one containing at least 3o percent DEET.

People most at risk of becoming ill are those over 60 years of age or whose health is impaired.

West Nile Virus was first confirmed in New York State in 1999.