Three more birds in Nassau County have tested positive for the West Nile virus. The birds, one found in Bethpage and one in Farmingdale, bring Nassau County to a new total of 40 birds which have been found to carry the virus.

The three birds, found in North Bellmore on Aug. 28, in Bethpage on Aug. 30 and in Farmingdale on Aug. 31, were tested by the New York State Department of Health, which confirmed that they carried the virus. They were found and collected prior to the spraying which took place in these vicinities on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

According to Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, no spraying will be taking place at this time. The Health Department says spraying is not necessary due to a number of reasons. The main concern of the health department is the human risk of contracting the virus. Prior to the spraying that occurred earlier this month in this area, there were five mosquito pools found. Since the spraying, no more have been reported, and after 25 weeks of extensive monitoring there have been no cases reported of humans infected with the disease.

Due to the cooler weather these vicinities have been experiencing recently, the pesticides would not be nearly as effective as they would under warmer conditions. Mosquitoes also fly more frequently in warm weather.

The Nassau County Mosquito Control Program continues to increase surveillance and mosquito trapping in these areas and will keep looking over the data.

"I want to assure residents that our deliberative approach to spraying has been the appropriate protocol to follow," Gulotta said after the three new birds were discovered.

Gulotta also added that the number of mosquitoes found in Nassau County has continued to be low, and that the Mosquito Control staff continues to trap them.

"The staff has increased monitoring and larvicide treatment of mosquito breeding areas in the locations where all 39 birds were found to have tested positive."

Since birds can fly into any given area at any time, additional traps for mosquitoes have been set up at the sites where the dead birds were collected in order to determine if any infected mosquitoes are in those regions. "That element is particularly important since the mosquito is the carrier of the disease," Gulotta said. "If infected mosquitoes are found in the area, a value judgment will be made to determine if limited spraying is required."

The health department has continued conducting an extensive data collection program to track any potential virus carriers and the mosquito control program should lower the growth of mosquito larvae. According to the health department, since mosquitoes are the carriers of the disease, data collection on infestation includes collection in 200 miles of fresh water streams, 70,000 street basins, 650 storm drains and 50 ponds throughout the county.

Nassau County has sent more than 72,000 samples from over 600 mosquito pools and almost 50 trap sites into the health department for testing. They have also responded to more than 10,000 inquiries from residents and complaints of possible breeding sites.

Both Gulotta and the health department urge residents to continue to take precautions both at home and outside. Residents are urged to continue wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants when they are outdoors, as well as using mosquito repellant. When at home, be sure to empty any standing water found laying around. Homeowners with boats are reminded to inspect their boats to assure that water has not collected either inside the boat or on its cover.

"These household mosquitoes travel less than 200 feet from their original breeding ground to find a victim," Gulotta said. "It is imperative that homeowners do not leave these insects the slightest opportunity to breed."

Nassau County has distributed over 200,000 copies of its 2000 Mosquito Control Program brochure to local schools, libraries, community groups, police and transportation centers.

Residents may call the West Nile Virus Information Hotline at 571-2500 for a recorded message given in both English and Spanish 24 hours a day for the most recent update of virus information, or can find information on-line at the county's website, www.co.nassau.ny.us

If any community members wish to report the finding of a dead bird or mosquito problem, they may call 571-8707 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.