West Nile risk closes two Suffolk parks at night, camping banned

Southaven and Blydenburgh county parks will remain closed from dusk until dawn until it turns cooler because of the "high numbers" of mosquito samples found to have tested positive for the West Nile virus, Suffolk County's commissioner of health services said Sunday.

"Due to the high numbers of positive mosquito samples being found in the county, and new findings of positive samples in Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown and an area of Shirley near Southaven Park, it is anticipated that both Blydenburgh and Southaven parks will remain closed from dusk until dawn until the weather gets cooler and mosquitoes become less active," Commissioner James Tomarken said in a statement.

Tomarken added the county has "conducted West Nile virus spraying and heightened surveillance in areas of the county that have had confirmed human cases of West Nile virus. We are also on track for spraying in areas where we have found mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus."

The two parks will be closed for all nighttime activities, including camping, until "further notice," according to the Suffolk County Parks website.

Last week, Tomarken said the county sprayed areas in Holbrook, Patchogue and Port Jefferson Station. This week, weather permitting, he said the county plans to spray in Shirley and Southaven County Park, which runs through parts of Yaphank and Shirley.

Blydenburgh park was sprayed for the West Nile virus on Aug. 9, but all parks are being monitored.

John McConnell of Yaphank said he lives near Southaven Park, where he routinely goes bike riding, slathered in insect repellent. He said that, for a little more than a week, he's noticed signs on both entrances to the park stating that it is closed from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. because mosquitoes tested positive for the virus.