Rockland County crews prepare for peak season of West Nile virus

Rockland County crews were out Friday to try and eradicate as many mosquitoes as possible to reduce the risk of potential West Nile virus transmission.

News 12 Staff

Jul 26, 2019, 9:41 PM

Updated 1,768 days ago

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Rockland County crews were out Friday to try and eradicate as many mosquitoes as possible to reduce the risk of potential West Nile virus transmission.
"This is something we deal with every year," said County Environmental Health Specialist, Amy Isenberg. "It's completely expected we find it at this point."
Isenberg says residents shouldn't be alarmed, but everyone needs to do their part to make sure no one gets sick.
She says residents need to make sure they're not the cause of mosquito breeding by not allowing trash cans, tires, buckets, pool covers and other backyard containers to fill with standing water.
The push to eradicate mosquitoes comes as mosquitos carrying West Nile virus were found in Ramapo Thursday, according to health officials.
Signs of the illness include fever, headache and other flu-like symptoms.
Only two confirmed cases of the disease have been reported in Rockland County in the last 20 years.
Health officials say the peak months for West Nile virus in the area are between August and September. They say if anyone starts to fell unwell after they were bit by a mosquito, they should call a doctor.
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus were found in Ramapo, according to health officials.


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