West Nile Virus is transmitted by particular species of mosquitos. Property owners can minimize the risk to themselves and their neighbors by finding and eliminating mosquito-breeding sites. This does not just apply to business and homeowners who live near water. Mosquitoes can breed in unlikely locations – a bottle cap filled with water, leaf debris or clogged rain gutters. Discarded tires are a particular problem. A thorough spring clean up will not only improve the appearance of a property, it will help lower the risk of being bitten by a mosquito.

As the warm weather continues, mosquitoes will become more prevalent. It is important to take clean-up action now to curb the spread of West Nile Virus as much as possible.

The Oneida County Health Department requests the assistance of the public in reporting potential breeding sites due to standing water that residents see on public lands or on abandoned properties. Contact the Health Department at 798-5064.

Dead crows or jays could be a sign of West Nile Virus, but it is important to remember that not all dead birds are killed by West Nile Virus. Contact the Oneida County Health Department at 798-5064 to report dead crows and jays. Not all birds can or should be picked up for testing.

Biweekly West Nile updates are posted on the Oneida County Web site, www.co.oneida.ny.us. Residents who want to contact the Health Department can call the West Nile Hot Line at 798-5064 or e-mail westnile@co.oneida.ny.us.

Health Department staff, in conjunction with other agencies as appropriate, are investigating potential mosquito breeding habitats noted last summer and those reported thus far this season to the Health Department. Several areas have been investigated, and as the weather warms up, will be reinspected for mosquito larvae.

The Health Department is continuing to send dead birds to the New York State Department of Health for testing. No positive tests from Oneida County have been reported yet.

Beginning Monday, June 10, 2002, Health Department staff will begin setting CDC light traps for mosquitoes in several locations throughout Oneida County. Pools of mosquitoes captured in these traps were submitted to Albany to be tested for the presence of West Nile Virus. Results will be made available as they are received by our department.

Larval surveillance will also be preformed in areas where stagnant water is present. This surveillance will allow health department officials to determine the presence of particular mosquito species which may play a role in the transmission of West Nile Virus.