West Nile Virus Found In Orange County

GOSHEN, NY — The West Nile virus was detected in Orange County.

Health officials said Thursday that monitoring of the county’s mosquito population discovered a mosquito pool carrying the West Nile virus in the town of New Windsor.

Alicia Pointer, the Orange County health commissioner, said there is still a long mosquito season to come.

“Residents should always try to protect themselves but especially now that West Nile virus positive mosquitoes have been detected in the county,” she said.

Pointer advises people to wear appropriate clothing and consider sprays when outdoors and check their property for any pooling or stagnant water.

Other tips:

• Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
• Wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when you are outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active.
• Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors, particularly during evening activities, e.g., fishing. Make sure to follow the directions on the label.

Since mosquitoes can breed in any stagnant water that lasts more than four days residents should do the following to reduce the mosquito population around their homes and properties:

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers.
• Drill drain holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
• Make sure that your roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
• Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Change the water in birdbaths twice a week.
• Remove all discarded tires from your property.
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds.
• Drain water from pool covers. Also, remove leaves and debris as they collect on covers to reduce breeding areas.
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

For more information on mosquito prevention or protection, call the Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2332.