Suffolk steps up mosquito spraying efforts

Suffolk County plans to spray pesticides to control adult mosquitoes Tuesday night on Fire Island and in Holtsville, South Huntington, Nesconset and Ronkonkoma, health officials said.

Weather permitting, pesticide spraying also will be done Wednesday night in Heckscher State Park and surrounding areas in East Islip and Great River, and on Thursday morning in the Smith Point Park Recreation area, officials said.

From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, all streets in the communities of Davis Park and Point O'Woods on Fire Island will be ground sprayed with the pesticide sumithrin.

From 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, an area in Holtsville "bounded on the west by Fourteenth Avenue, on the south by Woodside Avenue and on the east by North Ocean Avenue," will be ground sprayed with resmethrin, health officials said.

Also from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, an area in South Huntington "bounded on the west by New York Avenue, on the north by Jericho Turnpike, on the east by Pigeon Hill Road and on the south by Old Country Road," will be ground sprayed with resmethrin, officials said.

Also from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, an area in Nesconset and Ronkonkoma "bounded on the south by Portion Road, Lake Ronkonkoma and Richmond Avenue, on the west by Old Nichols Road, Smithtown Boulevard and Lake Avenue, on the north by Route 347, Browns Road, Old Nichols Road and Moriches Road and on the east by Hawkins Avenue" will be sprayed via their air by resmethrin, officials said.

From 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, Heckscher State Park and "surrounding areas in Great River and East Islip, bounded on the west by Champlin Creek, on the north by the Long Island Railroad, on the east by the Connetquot River and on the south by Great South Bay" will be sprayed via the air with resmethrin.

From 6 to 9 a.m. Thursday in the Smith Point Park recreation area on Fire Island, west of the parkway, ground spraying of anvil will be done, officials said.

The health department said that "health effects from spraying are quite low," but advised that common-sense steps should be taken to avoid exposure. Children and pregnant women, the release said, should "remain inside or avoid the area whenever spraying takes place and for about 30 minutes after spraying."

To keep the pesticide from getting indoors, officials said, "Close windows and doors and close the vents of window air-conditioning units . . . before spraying begins. Windows and air-conditioning vents can be reopened about 30 minutes after spraying."

Outdoors, pick homegrown fruits and vegetables, if possible, before spraying. Bring laundry and all small toys indoors. If items are exposed to the pesticide, wash with soap and water.

Also, officials said, pet food and water dishes should be brought inside, and ornamental fish ponds should be covered during the spray period.

More information is at an information hotline, 631-852-4939, or at suffolkcountyny.gov/health.