Fire Island to be sprayed for mosquitoes Tuesday

Suffolk County plans to conduct its first ground spraying of the season Tuesday 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 Davis Park and Point O'Woods, 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.

Four human West Nile cases were reported in the county last year and no deaths, with 178 mosquito samples testing positive, a spokeswoman 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 staying 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