New York State Health Department officials have confirmed positive test results of West Nile Virus (WNV) found in mosquito pool samples collected in numerous Nassau County communities, including Garden City Village and East Garden City.

According to Nassau County Health Department spokesperson Mary Ellen Laurain, there are currently 42 mosquito traps throughout the county; the department does not however reveal exact locations for fear of public tampering. Mosquito surveillance will continue at those 42 sites and will be intensified in communities where positive mosquito pools have been identified. 

To date, 49 mosquito pools and one human have tested positive for West Nile this year.

The Nassau County Departments of Health and Public Works are continuing to inspect breeding sites and, when necessary, applying larvicide. 

Samples, all Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected in July in Garden City, East Garden City, West Hempstead, Valley Stream, Lakeview, Massapequa Park, Massapequa Preserve (2 pools), Wantagh, Merrick, Glen Cove (2 pools), East Hills, Mineola, Westbury, Old Westbury, Baldwin, Long Beach, Bethpage, Farmingdale, Hicksville (2 pools), Old Bethpage (2 pools), Roosevelt, Jericho (2 pools), Kings Point (2 pools), Lake Success, Plandome Manor, Sands Point and Searingtown.

The state health department confirmed positive test results for the pools in Garden City and East Garden City July 29.

The primary carrier of WNV in Nassau County is the "house mosquito" (Culex pipiens-restuans), which, the county health department notes, doesn't fly more than 200 feet from its breeding site.

The Nassau County Department of Health advises residents to take the following precautions:

• Remove or empty standing water from children's outdoor toys, flower pots, garbage cans, pails, old tires, or any object that can hold water.
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly; clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
• Keep swimming pools chlorinated and their covers free of stagnant water.
• Change the water in birdbaths every two or three days.
• Install window and door screens and keep them in good repair.
• Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito repellent (according to directions) if outdoors when mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and evening hours.
• Decorative ponds and water features should be circulated or chlorinated if they do not contain fish to prevent mosquito breeding.

Ground and aerial spraying in targeted areas of the county is now underway though spraying is not currently scheduled for Garden City.

Recent surveillance data has demonstrated an increased threat of WNV, according to the county health department's website, and experts from the state health department have advised Nassau County that the risk to the public's health "warrants the application of adulticide to control mosquitoes in certain areas of the county."

Weather permitting, the planned schedule for aerial spraying will be Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. and Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. According to the county health department, spraying may continue next week based on weather conditions.

Areas to be sprayed by plane include: (northern boundary) Northern Boulevard from the Queens line to Cedar Swamp Road (Rt. 107), from Cedar Swamp Road south of Northern Boulevard to Jericho Turnpike, Jericho Turnpike to the Suffolk County line; (southern boundary) north of Sunrise Highway from the Queens border to the Wantagh State Parkway, excluding those areas previously addressed by ground spraying, and north of the Southern State Parkway from the Wantagh Parkway to the Suffolk County line; (eastern boundary) Suffolk County line; and (western boundary) Queens line.

Areas to be sprayed by truck include: sections of Plandome, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights, Manhasset, Munsey Park, Flower Hill, Port Washington and Sands Point on Tuesday, Aug. 10, beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. Alternate dates include Wednesday, Thursday or Monday, Aug. 11, 12 or 16, beginning at 7 p.m.  and ending at 5 a.m.

Sections of Massapequa Park and East Massapequa, sections of Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head and Old Brookville are scheduled to be sprayed Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. Alternate dates include Thursday, Monday or Tuesday, Aug. 12, 16 or 17.

For mosquito, stagnant water or drainage problems, call the Nassau County Department of Public Works at 516-572-1166 weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For additional information, please call the West Nile Virus Spray Hotline at 1-888-844-8657 or visit the Nassau County Department of Health website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health/.