WHITE PLAINS – The Westchester County Health Department announce that this season’s first two batches of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in the county have been found in Rye and Mamaroneck.
The health department will inspect areas near the positive mosquito batches and if needed, treat any nearby catch basins that hold standing water to protect against further mosquito breeding nearby.
To date, these are the first positives out of 108 batches of mosquitoes collected by the health department in 11 locations throughout the county that were tested for the virus by the State Health Department.
Last year, 11 batches of mosquitoes had West Nile virus out of 151 submitted for testing in Westchester. The first detected in mosquitoes was collected on August 4.
“As you spend more time outdoors, protect yourself and your family by using repellents, especially from dawn to dusk, when many mosquitoes are active,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler. “Apply sunscreen first, and repellent second.”
