Nassau to spray for mosquitoes by plane
Based on a jump in positive West Nile samples, Nassau County will conduct aerial spraying for the first time since 2008 in an effort to control mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile virus, authorities said Tuesday.
The Nassau County Department of Health said Tuesday its two-day aerial pesticide treatment that begins Wednesday will include an area between Northern Boulevard to the north; Sunrise Highway to the south; the Queens borough line to the west and the Suffolk County line to the east.
The last time Nassau County sprayed by plane, in 2008, an area of 55,000 acres was treated, health department spokeswoman Mary Ellen Laurain said. "But because we're seeing more widespread viral activity in mosquitoes, this year we're spraying about 78,000 acres by air," she said.
In 2008, through early August, positive samples for the virus were found in 20 testing traps, or pools, she said. This year, positive samples were found in 49 traps during roughly the same period.
Weather permitting, aerial spraying will run 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday into Thursday and Thursday into Friday. Spraying also could continue next week, depending on weather conditions.
In addition, spraying by truck for areas of Massapequa Park, East Massapequa, Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head and Old Brookville is scheduled from Wednesday at 7 p.m. to Thursday at 5 a.m. Alternate dates for truck spraying are Thursday, Aug. 16 or Aug. 17.
The county said in a release Tuesday "recent surveillance data has demonstrated an increased threat of West Nile virus. Experts from the New York State Department of Health have advised Nassau County that the risk to the public's health warrants the application of adulticide to control mosquitoes in certain areas."
In Suffolk County, ground spraying is Tuesday and Wednesday in several communities, including Fire Island, Huntington Station, Islandia, Lakeland, Babylon, West Babylon, North Babylon, West Islip and West Bay Shore, the county's Department of Health Services said.
On Fire Island, Davis Park and Point O'Woods will be treated from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Smith Point Park recreation area will be treated from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday, followed by Summer Club and Atlantique from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
In Huntington Station, an area bounded on the west by New York Avenue, on the north by East Pulaski Road, on the east by Greenlawn Broadway and on the south by Route 25 will be sprayed to between 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. today.
In Islandia and Lakeland, an area bounded on the west by Old Nichols Road, on the north by the Long Island Expressway, on the east by Ocean Avenue and on the south by Veterans Highway, excluding parks, industrial sites and wetlands is to be treated from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
In Babylon, West Babylon, North Babylon, West Islip and West Bay Shore, an area bounded west by Santapogue Creek; on the north by Railroad Avenue to Little East Neck Road to Belmont Avenue to Southern Parkway; from Southern Parkway along Route 231 (Deer Park Avenue) to Union Boulevard, on the East by Windsor Boulevard and on the south by Great South Bay will be treated Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
More information for Nassau residents is available at the West Nile virus spray hotline, 888-844-8657, on the days that spraying is scheduled, between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., or at nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html or www.nassaucountyny.gov.
For Suffolk residents, call the spraying information hotline, 631-852-4939, or visit suffolkcountyny.gov/health.
'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.