Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net 516-572-5809
* * * Press Release ***
It’s 6:00pm, do you know where your children are? If you live near Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown, NY – you want to keep your family members (both young and old) away from it after 6:00pm.
Recently, a mosquito there tested positive for the West Nile virus. According to the article “Suffolk officials limit park hours over virusfear,” published by The Wall Street Journal, Health officials on Long Island have decided to close the county park from 6:00pm until 8:00am, when mosquitoes are most active.
The West Nile Virus is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. It can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal symptoms (CDC).
According to the article, James Tomarken, Suffolk Health Commissioner, says “the presence of the virus in the park’s mosquito population is no cause for alarm,” but residents should “consider covering up when they are outside in the evenings.”
Most people infected with the virus have no signs or symptoms. Therefore, the most important thing to do to protect yourself from the disease is to avoid mosquito bites.
Safety measures to protect you and your family from the deadly disease are using mosquito repellent, eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs, install or repair broken window and door screens and support community-based mosquito control programs (CDC).
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