Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Dr. Cynthia B. Morrow announced today that the New York State Health Department laboratory has reported finding evidence of West Nile virus in two mosquito pools. Both mosquito pools were collected on Gerelock Road in the town of Geddes on August 10, 2011 and sent to the New York State laboratory for testing. This is the third finding of West Nile virus in Onondaga County this year. There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile virus reported in Onondaga County to date this year. Larviciding  (the use of pesticides to control mosquito larvae) has been done recently at the Fairgrounds area to help reduce the mosquito population.

Additional mosquito control measures are also being planned. Ground spraying from trucks has been scheduled to take place inside and  surrounding the Fairgrounds. The designated spraying area is generally bounded to the north by Rt. 690, to the east by Bridge Street, to the south by Gerelock and Belle Isle Road, and to the west by Rt. 695. The truck spraying is planned for Sunday, August 21 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm weather permitting. Residents in the spray areas are being notified through the media.  If weather conditions are unfavorable, spraying will occur on Monday, August 22, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  In the past, ground spraying at the NYS Fair has taken place as a public health measure. The pesticide that will be used for truck spraying is Anvil. This pesticide is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation for this use. This product will be applied at very low concentration and is not expected to cause any adverse reactions. A copy of the pesticide label can be found on the Onondaga County website at www.ongov.net/health/documents/AnvilProductLabel.pdf

During spraying, it is recommended that residents:

§         Stay indoors and keep windows closed for one hour after your area has been sprayed

§         Keep pets indoors if possible

§         Cover outdoor gardens and  rinse vegetables before eating

§         Set your window air conditioners to circulate indoor air. It is safe to use your central air conditioning

§         Remove children’s toys that are outdoors, any outdoor furniture, and clothes from outdoor clotheslines

§         If toys or clothes have been left outdoors, wash each thoroughly with soap and water before using and launder clothes before wearing

§         If you are driving during the spraying, close your car windows and vents

It is also important that the public continue to take measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to keep your yard free from standing water to reduce the mosquito population near your home. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. Personal protection is advised during outdoor activities. Personal protection measures include wearing shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outside for a long period of time. Applying a mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 is also recommended to prevent mosquito bites. Do not put the repellent directly onto children. Put it on your hands and apply it to your child. Do not put insect repellent on your face. Wash skin and clothing after returning indoors. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for application.

The following are ways of helping to reduce mosquito breeding grounds:

§         Throw away outdoor tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or containers that hold water

§         Remove all tires from your property

§         Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors

§         Clean clogged rain gutters and make sure they continue to work properly

§         Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use

§         Change water in bird baths at least every four days

§         Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds

§         Clean chlorinated swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs

§         Drain water from pool covers

§         Use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates

For more information about personal protection measures contact the Onondaga County

Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649. To view a map of the ground spraying area visit www.ongov.net/health/mosquitoborne.html.