Health Officials Find West Nile Virus In Batch Of Mosquitoes

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — This season's first positive pool, or group, of mosquitoes for West Nile Virus has been identified in Rockland County, the New York State Department of Health has confirmed on Tuesday.

As part of the county's ongoing mosquito surveillance efforts, the infected mosquitoes (Culex pipiens-restuans) were collected from a surveillance trap in the Town of Orangetown during the week of June 30, and the sample was submitted for testing on July 7. So far this year, 183 mosquito pools have been submitted for testing, Rockland County health officials said.

No human cases have been reported this season. The most recent confirmed human case in Rockland County was in 2023.

"This time of year, we see more mosquito activity, which increases the risk of West Nile Virus," Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mary Leahy, said. "Our team works actively to locate mosquito breeding sites and apply larvicide to reduce mosquito populations and the risk of mosquito-borne disease."

Most mosquitoes do not carry West Nile Virus, but a bite from an infected mosquito can lead to serious illness, especially in people 50 and older, or those with weakened immune systems. Rockland County Health Department officials urge anyone with symptoms of West Nile Virus to see a doctor right away.

Symptoms may include milder flu-like illness, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea; occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Neurological disease (encephalitis or meningitis) can occur in severe cases.

The Rockland County Department of Health offered tips to reduce the chances of things getting that far:

Eliminating standing water is the first step in reducing mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. The eggs then hatch into larvae that develop in the water for 7 to 10 days before emerging as adult mosquitoes that fly and bite. The best and most effective mosquito control begins in private yards. Follow these mosquito control tips to reduce mosquito breeding on your property:

• Empty or remove items that collect water: birdbaths, unused flowerpots, discarded tires, and even bottle caps.
• Flip over anything you choose to keep outside, such as kids' toys, buckets, wading pools, canoes, and wheelbarrows, when not in use to prevent them from collecting any water. Dispose of old tires properly.
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers.
• Drain or treat unused swimming pools or hot tubs. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub that is not in use, drain the water off the cover or treat the standing water with Mosquito Dunks. The dunks are available free of charge at the Health Department in Pomona, Monday through Friday, by appointment only, while supplies last. To arrange a pickup, call 845-364-3173 or send an e-mail to this email address.
• Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Maintain septic systems by repairing cracks and covering open vents with fine mesh.
• Remove leaf debris from yards and gardens. Clean gutters to remove leaf litter in order for roof gutters to drain properly. Trim vegetation around ponds.

To reduce your risk of being bitten, take the following steps to help prevent mosquito bites:

• Cover your skin as much as possible. When outdoors for long periods or when mosquitoes are more active, wear shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Mosquitoes are generally more active from dusk to dawn, although their activity can vary depending on the species.
• Use mosquito repellent, which should always be applied according to label directions. Do not use repellent on babies younger than 2 months old. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children younger than 3 years old.
• Cover baby carriers with mosquito netting when outside.
• Stay indoors when mosquitoes are more active.
• Close doors and ensure windows and doors are screened and do not have rips, tears, or holes.

Call the Rockland County Health Department at 845-364-3173 to learn more or visit the Mosquito Control webpage. For more information, visit the New York State Health Department's West Nile Virus webpage.