Nassau communities will be sprayed for West Nile

Nassau County, with an eye to controlling the adult mosquito population, plans to conduct ground spraying Tuesday in areas of East Garden City, Garden City, Hempstead, Salisbury, Brookville, Greenvale, Roslyn, East Hills and Old Westbury, health officials said.

Ground spraying with the pesticide Scourge is planned, weather permitting, from 8 p.m. through 4 a.m., officials said.

Besides being annoying, some mosquito bites transmit the West Nile virus to humans. Mosquitoes pick up the virus by feeding on infected birds.

Nassau has reported 32 mosquito samples testing positive for the virus this year, and two human cases, with both people recovered or recovering. Suffolk County has reported 158 mosquito samples and four birds testing positive, but no humans.

The chance of experiencing health effects from spraying is "quite low," the Nassau health department said. Still, "as with any pesticide, individuals may want to reduce or eliminate exposure" -- with children and pregnant women advised to stay inside during treatment and about 30 minutes after.

Learn more at: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html