ALBANY – With increases in human cases of West Nile virus in New York State and throughout the country, State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. today emphasized the importance of New Yorkers taking personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites.

"As we continue to partner with local health departments to help reduce the public's risk of exposure and to identify mosquito-borne illness sources, it is essential that people take precautions to avoid potentially serious illnesses, such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis," Commissioner Shah said.

To greatly minimize exposure to West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), the New York State Department of Health (DOH) recommends people take precautionary measures such as wearing shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for a long period of time. People are also advised to apply appropriate mosquito repellent and to remove all standing water from property.

To date this year, a total of 714 mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile across the state, including: Chautauqua (1) Erie (120), Nassau (58), Onondaga (10), Orange (3), Oswego (5), Rockland (88), Suffolk (176) and Westchester (22). The New York City Department of Health reported positive results for Bronx (10), Brooklyn (33), Manhattan (2), Queens (70), and Staten Island (116).

To date, the total number of human cases of West Nile virus in New York State is eleven (11). The New York City Department of Health has reported five (5) cases. The other cases include: Erie County one (1), Nassau County one (1), Oswego County one (1), Suffolk County one (1), and Onondaga County two (2). On August 20, the Onondaga County Health Department reported one of the two cases, an older adult, had been hospitalized and later succumbed to the disease.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus has not been detected in any mosquito samples tested to date this year. However, a horse in St. Lawrence County tested positive for EEE on July 25. No human cases of EEE have been reported this year in New York State. In neighboring Massachusetts, state health officials are urging people to take similar precautions as the number of mosquitoes infected with EEE is the most intense in the state in three decades.

In 2011, there were 44 cases of West Nile Virus, two of which were fatal, and one fatal EEE case. The fatal cases of West Nile occurred in Nassau County and the Borough of Queens. The fatal EEE case occurred in Oswego County.

New Yorkers are urged to:

• Dispose of used tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers in which water collects;
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors. Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall;
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use and change the water in bird baths twice a week;
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds;  
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs, and drain water from pool covers.

For more information on West Nile virus visit: www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/fact_sheet.htm