Andrew J. Spano
County Executive

September 27, 1999

County Announces Eight confirmed Cases of West Nile-like Virus

Contact Mary Landrigan

(914) 637-4715

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and County Health Commissioner Dr. Harold N. Adel announced at a press conference today that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of eight people who tested positive for the West Nile-like virus in Westchester, including one who died. Four of those cases had previously been identified as St. Louis Encephalitis.

The four new confirmed cases are two women from New Rochelle in their 60s, a man from Harrison in his 50s, a man from Yonkers (with a Bronxville mailing address) in his 60s. The single death associated with West Nile-like virus occurred in one of the two women from New Rochelle.

At today's press conference, Spano also advised the public that so far 238 dead birds have been found in Westchester, one which tested positive for the West Nile-like virus. He asked the public to notify the Health Department of dead birds, who spread the disease to mosquitoes who spread it to humans, by calling the hotline at (914) 285-2032. He also asked residents to remove standing water where mosquitoes breed.

"We are particularly concerned with water in basements left by Tropical Storm Floyd,'' said Spano. "I am meeting with municipal officials today at 5 p.m. to brief them on the situation and our Office of Disaster and Emergency Service is working with police and fire departments to determine who has water in their basements and how we can quickly remove it.''

Spano added, that "Second to aerial spraying, the best weapon we have against this disease is cooperation from the public in helping us to remove any standing water, in basements, in swimming pools, in old tires, anywhere where these mosquitoes can breed.

Of the 238 dead birds found in Westchester, one - a crow found in Scarsdale - has thus far tested positive for the West Nile-like virus. The Health Department expects that more dead birds will eventually test positive for the virus.

Dr. Adel stressed that the virus can only be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

"West Nile-like virus is a mosquito-borne virus which is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus,'' said Dr. Adel. "Both viruses are transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that becomes infected with the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Like St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile-like virus is not transmitted from person to person or from birds to persons."

The Health Department is asking residents who find dead birds to call its hotline. In some cases, the bird may be picked up by the Health Department for testing. In others, residents may be asked to dispose of the bird. Those disposing of dead birds should use heavy gloves and place the bird in a double bag before throwing it in the trash or burying it at least 3-feet deep.

Westchester County began aerial spraying on Thursday, Sept. 23, using Anvil, a pyrethroid insecticide that is a synthetic compound resembling a substance produced by chrysanthemums. CDC indicates these mosquito control measures are appropriate in response to both St. Louis encephalitis and the West Nile-like virus.

No further aerial spraying after this evening (Monday) is anticipated. Also, Westchester has no plans at this time to spray in northern Westchester.

Mosquito spraying for Monday, September 27, 1999 will start at 7:00 p.m. and is expected to be completed by 9:00 p.m., weather permitting. The spraying will cover the following areas:

• The southern border of the spraying area is the Cross County Parkway and Ashburton Avenue in Yonkers. The eastern border is the Bronx River Parkway north from the Cross County Parkway to Leewood Country Club. The northern border then shifts west across Crestwood Lake to the Sprain Brook Parkway. From that
• point north to I-287, the Sprain Brook Parkway forms the eastern border of the spraying area. The western border is the Hudson River. The northern border is I-287.
• This area includes parts of the municipalities of Ardsley; Dobbs Ferry; Elmsford; Hastings-on-Hudson; Irvington; southern Tarrytown; parts of the Town of Greenburgh, north and south of the Village of Ardsley; Tuckahoe and Yonkers (north of Ashburton Avenue).

Westchester County continues to advise residents to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes both day and night. These include:

• 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.
• Remove water from cans, jars, old tires, clogged roof gutters, yard decorations, or any other outdoor containers since mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water.
• Ensure that your home has tight-fitting screens over windows and doors to keep mosquitoes from entering apartments and homes.
• Residents should make arrangements to drain flooded basements and other areas where water accumulates.
• Drain or tightly cover swimming pools. This includes home pools as well as those found at country clubs and other sites, when not in use.

Additional information on St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile-like virus and mosquito spraying is found on the Westchester County Health Department Website, www.westchestergov.com/health. The St. Louis Encephalitis Hotline is (914) 285-2032, and is active between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

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