Mosquito spraying continues in Nassau

As part of its ongoing mosquito control efforts, Nassau County is continuing its ground spraying next week in selected communities.

Treatments are planned, weather permitting, from 7 p.m. to no later than 2 a.m., using the pesticide Scourge, which health officials say has a low chance of leading to medical problems. Still, residents may want to avoid exposure, they say, with children and pregnant women especially advised to stay indoors during the treatment and for 30 minutes after.

Spraying has become increasingly important as both Nassau and Suffolk counties try to contain West Nile virus, which is spread through bites from infected mosquitoes.

Areas to be treated Monday are: all of Island Park and sections of Barnum Island, Bay Park, East Rockaway, Harbor Isle, Hewlett, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Lynbrook, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Valley Stream, Woodmere and Woodsburgh.

To be treated Tuesday are: sections of Cedarhurst, Hewlett Neck, Inwood, Lawrence, Woodmere and Woodsburgh.

On Thursday sections of Farmingdale, Levittown, North Massapequa, Plainedge and South Farmingdale are slated for spraying.

In the event of a cancellation, the alternate date is Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Nassau County reports that 30 mosquito samples from 19 trap locations have tested positive for the virus, according to the health department, with the most recent positives collected July 24 to 27 in East Garden City, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Massapequa Preserve, Mineola, Plainview, Plandome Manor and Westbury.

West Nile virus is being detected in samples throughout the county, said Mary Ellen Laurain, spokeswoman for the Nassau health department. Residents are advised to be proactive in surveying their home environments and dumping standing water, which is where mosquitoes breed, she said.

For updates and more information call the county's treatment hotline at 888-844-8657 or check the health department's website at nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html.