West Nile Virus Found 4th Time At Watch Hill On Fire Island: Officials

WATCH HILL, NY — West Nile virus has been detected in mosquito samples taken on Sept. 3 from a trap at Watch Hill — the fourth case at Watch Hill this year, National Park Service officials said Wednesday morning in a news release.

Mosquito traps are set at Watch Hill, a federal tract of land between Davis Park and the Fire Island Wilderness area, 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 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 Watch Hill, where West Nile Virus was detected.

The park service works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Suffolk's Department of Health Services – Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory, Vector Control, 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 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 in 1999.