news release
ANDREW J. SPANO County Executive Westchester County Department of Health			www.westchestergov.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION

April 14, 2000 Contact Mary Landrigan

West Nile Virus Newspaper-in-Education (914) 637-4715

County Executive Andy Spano and the Westchester County Department of Health today announced the release of a 16-page bilingual newspaper supplement on the West Nile virus to 50,000 Westchester County students through the Journal News Newspaper-In-Education program.

"The Newspaper-in-Education supplement on the West Nile virus will reach students from 3^rd grade to 8^th grade," stated Kristine Carosella, a Newspaper-in-Education representative at The Journal News. "Our supplement program is delivered directly to the schools and offers a unique way for students to learn about current issues such as West Nile virus."

Along with educational games and activities, the supplement offers facts on West Nile virus, including tips on how students and their families can protect themselves from mosquito bites and how they can eliminate mosquito-breeding sites in and around their homes. The supplement is written both in English and Spanish.

"The supplement is an effective tool to help teach children about West Nile virus," said County Executive Spano. "It opens up to a color centerfold with pictures of mosquito breeding sites and important mosquito facts that teachers can post in classrooms. In addition, when the students bring the supplement home, it provides an opportunity for parents to share in the learning experience with their children."

Newspapers in Education - Pg. 2

The supplement is part of the County Executive's Operation Mosquito S.T.I.N.G. (Stop The Insects' Next Generation), a multi-level program designed to prevent another outbreak of West Nile encephalitis through education, outreach, surveillance, control, coordination and communication.

For more information on the West Nile virus newspaper supplement, or to receive a free copy, call the Westchester County of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit our website at www.westchestergov.com/health.