Community Corner

Blydenburgh County Park To Close From Dusk to Dawn

County officials take precautionary measure of closing park, camping area after mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile Virus.

Suffolk County officials announced Friday they have taken the precautionary measure of closing from dusk to dawn after a mosquito sample tested positive for West Nile virus.

Blydenburgh County Park will be closed down immediately from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and all activities during those hours will be suspended.

Officials said overnight campers can receive a refund for the days remaining on their reservations or can more to one of the other county-owned campgrounds. Campers can call the Suffolk County Parks Department at 631-854-4949 for more information.

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"The confirmation of West Nile virus in a mosquito pool indicates that the virus is actively circulating within the mosquito population," Suffolk County Health Commissioner James Tomarken said in a statement. "While there is no cause for alarm, we urge residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus, which can be debilitating to humans."

Blydenburgh County Park will remain open during the daylight hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for public use. Visitors to the park were encouraged to take steps to reduce the chance of being bitten by a mosquito including:

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  • Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks and shoes when outdoors for long periods of time.
  • Use mosquito repellent and follow the directions carefully.
  • Make sure all your windows and doors of your home have screens, and the screens are fully intact.

Suffolk County Health Department announced six mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus on Thursday, bringing the total number of infected mosquitoes found in Suffolk County up to 30 this year. According to the county, 12 birds have tested positive for the virus, and one person in the Town of Huntington has contracted the virus and recovered.

The county issued tips to help residents reduce the mosquito population around homes and the local area, including:

  • Remove items like tin cans, ceramic pots, plastic containers, and tires which act as water-holding devices;
  • Clean clogged gutters and make sure they drain properly;
  • Frequently change the water in bird baths;
  • Turn over items like wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use;
  • Keep shrubs and grass trimmed, and keep vegetation and debris away from the edges of ponds;
  • Drain water from pool covers;
  • Make sure swimming pools, hot tubs, and outdoor saunas are clean and chlorinated.

The county also advised that dead birds may indicate the presence of West Nile, and anyone who finds a dead bird should call the county's West Nile hotline at 631-787-2200 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mosquito problems and stagnant pools of water can be reported to the county at 631-852-4270. For medical questions pertaining to West Nile virus, residents can call 631-853-3055 or visit the Department of Health Services website.


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