Mosquito spraying set for Fire Island

Suffolk County is planning to conduct ground spraying Wednesday on Fire Island to control the adult mosquito population, health officials said.

Ground spraying with the pesticide Anvil is planned, weather permitting, from 6 to 10 p.m. in Ocean Bay Park, Seaview and Ocean Beach, health officials said.

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

Two mosquito samples collected Aug. 15 and 16 at Gardiner County Park, Bay Shore, and Byron Lake Park, Oakdale, have tested positive for West Nile virus, Suffolk County health officials said. As a result, the Town of Islip Department of Parks and the Suffolk County Department of Parks advised residents to restrict activities to daytime hours when mosquitoes aren't active.

The samples bring to 109 the number testing positive in Suffolk this year. Four birds also have tested positive for the disease but there have been no human or equine cases, health officials said.

The chances of experiencing health effects from spraying are "quite low," the health department said, but children and pregnant women should avoid exposure when possible by steering clear of the area during and at least 30 minutes after spraying. Among the "common-sense steps" the department suggests is closing doors, windows and air-conditioning vents during and 30 minutes after spraying.

Learn more at Suffolk's spraying information hotline 631-852-4939, as well as suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices.aspx.