8 more Suffolk mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus

Eight mosquito samples collected in Suffolk County this month tested positive for West Nile virus, Suffolk health officials announced Friday.

Samples were taken on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, said county Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott.

One sample each was collected in Copiague, Cold Spring Harbor, Setauket and Nesconset on Aug. 9, while three were collected in Aquebogue and one in Bay Shore on Aug. 10, Pigott said in a release.

So far this year, 59 samples have tested positive, the county Health Department said.

“The confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area,” said Pigott. “While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.”

The West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and could cause severe symptoms such as vision loss, muscle weakness and neurological problems, which in some people are permanent.

To avoid mosquito bites, residents and visitors should limit outdoor activity between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when mosquitoes are active, Pigott said.

Growth of mosquitoes can be limited by eliminating outside containers holding water including pet bowls, buckets, trash cans and birdbaths — or at least empty them once a week and scrub them, Pigott said.

Call the county’s vector control division at 631-852-4270 to report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water.

If you see a dead bird — a possible indication of the presence of the West Nile virus — take a photograph of the bird and call the county’s Bureau of Public Health Protection at 631-852-5999 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.