Summer’s almost here, watch out for West Nile

A New York City Department of Health official warned attendees of the Ozone Park Civic Association’s latest meeting that summer is the time that people are at most risk to contract West Nile Virus.
The official, Marcia O’Connor, Deputy Director of the Office of Vector Surveillance and Control, stressed the importance of eliminating standing water in the borough of Queens, which has a lot of marsh land, at the June 17 meeting. Standing water is a top breeding spot for mosquitoes, the primary source of West Nile Virus in humans.
“The number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood can be reduced by eliminating sources of standing water in which mosquitoes lay their eggs,” she said. It’s up to city residents to report standing water to 3-1-1. “Mosquito control efforts are committed in response to reports of standing water from the public as well as to sites previously identified from citywide surveillance activities.”
City residents whose neighbors have dirty pools are advised to report them if they refuse to clean it, O’Connor said. Mosquitoes breed in non-chlorinated swimming pools and even in water on swimming pool covers. If it comes to it, residents who don’t take care of their pools may be ticketed and in some cases city exterminators may clean a resident’s pool and property and pass them the bill.
To avoid outbreaks, the health department will collects mosquitoes in traps in different areas and test the insects for West Nile Virus. If they are found positive, the Department will spray the neighborhood after warning residents.
The Health Department is no longer testing birds, the primary reservoir of the West Nile Virus, because of budget cuts, O’Connor said. However, if anyone sees 10 or more dead birds, they should report to the city.
Last year, there were 18 cases of West Nile Virus in NYC, up from 12 in 2006. Queens had 10 of those cases last year, the majority of the entire city. The borough also had 96 mosquito pools, 60 more than the Bronx, the second highest.
Children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are most likely to suffer from the effects of the virus, which could cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and the weakening or paralysis of muscles.
O’Connor also offered some advice to avoid mosquito bites. “If it’s an infested area, even if you used repellant, it’s best to wear long sleeves,” she said. “If you have a pond, put fish in there because they eat the larvae.”