Floral Park's Building and Public Works Commissioner Ann Corbett has been informed of plans by the New York State Health Department to mount a full scale multi-faceted campaign to address the potential return of the West Nile Virus to New York this spring. One of the most important facets of this program is an aggressive health education program designed to elicit public cooperation to reduce man-made collections of polluted water in which Culex mosquitoes breed. Contact has been made with N.Y.S. Department of Health authorities regarding participation in the planned public education program.

West Nile Virus was responsible for 59 or more cases of encephalitis and seven deaths last summer and fall in New York State. Infections were also confirmed in hundreds of animals and birds. Whether this virus, new to the Western Hemisphere, will emerge again as mosquitoes come out of hibernation in April and early May remains uncertain. Recent tests in Queens detected the virus but this only means there may be a possibility for human infection, no one can predict for certain. Government at all levels is preparing to address this issue in a proactive manner.

Floral Park's Building and Public Works commissioner, in collaboration with the Building Superintendent Bob Solarino and Public Works Superintendent Ken Tymecki, are working on this serious problem. Together they are developing a plan for continuous monitoring of our public properties for areas which might act as breeding grounds for the mosquitoes. Buildings with flat top roofs where pools of water collect, gutters and drain pipes filled with damp leaves and any type of containers or debris that might fill up with rain water are just some examples.

The Village of Floral Park will work with the county and state in carrying out the proposed prevention plan. This will include contacting commercial establishments. Property owners and business operators will be asked to inspect and clean up regularly. If necessary summons will be given for non-compliance.

While the village will assume its responsibility for meeting this problem head-on, residents and property owners are asked to share in this effort. Neighbors must seek to keep their neighbors safe from harm. The Floral Park village property maintenance law already addresses this issue. Property owners cannot allow water to accumulate and stagnate in a bird bath, in the lid of a garbage can, pail, fish pond, tires or whatever. Mosquitoes will most likely begin to appear in late April and early May. Some advice: clean up your garage and your yard. Wear gloves, long sleeve shirt and long pants. Buy mosquito repellent and use it when and if the mosquitoes begin to appear but be sure to read the label. Plan to inspect your premises regularly from April to November. Report situations which you feel will increase the risk of anyone getting bitten by mosquitos. Do not pick up animal carcasses. This is not a time to panic but a time for action.

When more information and written materials become available from the state and county health departments, it will be available at our public offices, Channel 79 and other news media.

Trustee Corbett has been in touch with the Long Island Rail Road requesting that they clean up along their right of way and is in touch with Belmont Racetrack to discuss their plans. Nassau County has also been contacted to have them inspect the four sumps within the village.