Mosquito Spraying Set for Cedar Beach Tuesday Night

Suffolk County will be spraying for mosquitoes at Town's Cedar Beach on Tuesday night.

The application of the pesticide - an ultra-low volume aerosol called resmethrin (scourge), according to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services - will be applied via aircraft on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m.

It's expected to last until 11 p.m.

The spraying will happen at the golf course and recreational areas, officials noted.

Uptick in West Nile
To date this year 125 mosquito samples and 13 birds have tested positive for the virus, in addition to and another one being investigated as probable for the virus (no equine cases have been reported so far), Suffolk health officials said.

Of those 125 samples that span the County,  has had four  so far, and nearby   has had 16 to date.

This marks a  in the amount of mosquito samples testing positive this year for West Nile, officials said.

In response the County has been steadily spraying at Fire Island, as well as began spraying all around the County, including , West Babylon, Amityville and Copiague area on and in an area stretching from West Babylon and to West Bay Shore on .

The County has also treated salt marshes at the beaches all around Suffolk, including those at the Babylon Town beaches on .

Another treatment of the marshes, including those in Babylon Town is scheduled for

Spraying Precautions
The SCDHS said the chances of experiencing health effects from are low, but advised residents to take precautions and extra steps to avoid exposure before, during or after the aerial spraying.

The SCDHS recommended residents do the following:

• Children and pregnant women should avoid any exposure.
• All people should remain indoors until 30 minutes after spraying has finished.
• Close windows and air vents to your home to avoid pesticides from being sucked indoors.
• Pick any homegrown fruits or vegetables before spraying and rinse thoroughly.
• Bring pet dishes such as bowls indoors during the spraying, and cover any fish ponds.
• If you do come into contact with pesticide, then wash area thoroughly with water.
• Wash clothes that come in direct contact with spray separately from other laundry.
• Consult your health care provider if you think you're experiencing health effects from spraying.
• Pick homegrown fruits and vegetables you expect to eat soon before spraying takes place, and rinse homegrown fruits and vegetables thoroughly with water before cooking or eating.
• Bring laundry and small toys inside before spraying begins, and wash with detergent and water if exposed to pesticides during spraying.

Further questions could be directed to the Suffolk County Division of Vector Control at 631-852-4270 or the Spraying Information Hotline at 631-852-4939.