October 20, 1999                                   Contact Mary Landrigan

West Nile-like Virus confirmed in Armonk Mosquitoes    (914) 637-4715

The Westchester County Department of Health today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that West Nile-like virus has been identified in a sample of mosquitoes collected on October 2, 1999 and October 3, 1999 in Armonk.

"These mosquitoes were collected prior to the spraying that took place in the northern part of the county," stated Dr. Harold N. Adel, Westchester County Commissioner of Health. "However, people should not assume that all mosquitoes were killed by the spraying and should continue to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites."

The Department of Health awaits additional test results on mosquito specimens submitted to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Westchester County advises residents to:

Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors and use mosquito repellent on exposed skin.

Use insect repellent with no more than 30% DEET, but use it sparingly and with care.

(Products containing 15% or less DEET are recommended for children, but products containing DEET should not be used on infants. Carefully read and follow directions on the container and wash treated skin when mosquito exposure has ended.

Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity in areas that are likely mosquito habitats such as woods or wetlands.

Ensure that your home has tight-fitting screens over windows and doors to keep mosquitoes from entering apartments and homes.

Here is what residents can do to control mosquitoes:

Remove unnecessary water-holding containers, especially old tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles.

Cover your trash containers to keep out rain.

Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week, or drain completely if not in use.

Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.

Remove standing water from your basement.

Place a couple capfuls of household bleach in your basement sump-pump pit if it has standing water.

Keep drains, culverts and streams on your property clean of weeds and trash so that the water will drain properly.

Make sure stored boat covers are completely drained. Store small boats upside down.

Drain the water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays weekly.

Keep grass cut short and trim shrubs to eliminate hiding places for adult mosquitoes.

Drain swimming pools or cover them tightly and be sure rainwater does not collect on the cover. You should disinfect the cover with bleach to kill larvae and eggs.

Fill in hollow tree stumps and rot holes that hold water with sand or concrete.

The County is offering free insect repellent containing DEET, in strengths for children and adults, at local firehouses. Residents should contact their local fire departments to find out how to get the repellent.

Additional information on West Nile-like virus is found on the Westchester County Health Department Website, www.westchestergov.com. Residents can also call the encephalitis hotline at 285-2032 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.