Legislator Edward P. Mangano is urging all Nassau County residents to be cognizant of the threat of West Nile virus. This disease, carried by mosquitoes, has been present on Long Island for the past few summers, but is now quickly spreading all across the country. The county has just received word of the first human case of the West Nile Virus this year. There have been a number of pools of mosquitoes in Nassau County that have tested positive for the virus. The Nassau County Department of Health in association with state and federal health organizations are closely monitoring potential threats to public safety.

"With the outbreaks of West Nile in other regions of the country, such as Louisiana and Missouri, the virus has once again entered our minds. There are a number of ways that you can help by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. Nassau County is working very hard to protect all citizens from this potentially deadly threat," said Mangano.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to help control the spread of disease carrying mosquitoes. It is important to know what type of environment the mosquito lays their eggs. Here are a number of ways to decrease the mosquito populations in your area:

* Empty standing water from old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys or any other containers

* Empty and change water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, potted plant dishes and watering cans at least once a week, if not more frequently

* Completely drain swimming pools or keep them properly maintained and circulating; empty any water that may accumulate on swimming pool covers

* Clean and unclog rain gutters; these areas are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes

* Make sure window and door screens are tight fitting and in good repair

* Replace outdoor lights with yellow bug lights

* Apply mosquito repellent according to instructions on bottles; do not allow children to apply their own

* Notify county health officials of dead birds or of other mosquito complaints

At the time of this release, there is no plan to spray in Nassau County. The numbers of adult mosquitoes in Nassau does not warrant spraying at this time and it will only be done as a last possible resort. Continue to follow the West Nile situation on your local news or in your daily newspapers. If you would like further information on the West Nile Virus call Nassau County's 24-hour information hotline at 571-2500. You can also call the Nassau County Health Department at 571-8707 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The following websites may also be useful: Nassau County at www.co.nassau.ny.us; New York State Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/index.htm; Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov.

Children are the single most important gift in our lives. Protection of a child is a parent's number one concern. Young children need to be constantly looked out for by parents, teachers or other adults. Unfortunately, parents and teachers cannot always be around to look after children. Legislator Edward P. Mangano would like to offer parents information on what to do when selecting a babysitter or day care center. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a series of suggestions to follow when selecting a babysitter or day care center that is right for your child.

"Nothing is more important to me than protecting children, these guidelines are extremely useful for parents who cannot be home every day to greet their child as they get off the school bus," said Mangano.

Here are some tips on how to go about selecting a day care center:

* Screen numerous centers before deciding which one is correct for your child.

* Make sure your center allows parents to come and go as they please unannounced and there are no off limit areas to parents. If possible, drop in unannounced to check on your child.

* Make sure the bathroom areas are not places where children can be isolated. Ask if children are escorted to the bathroom and by whom.

* Make sure naptime for children is properly supervised.

* Inquire about the training and certification of all day care center employees.

* Find out who will be interacting with your child in addition to day care staff, such as janitors, bus drivers and relatives of staff members.

* Ask about the child to staff ratio.

* Inquire about how discipline is handled within the center.

* Make sure you talk to your child everyday about day care, find out about any problems that they may be having and report them to the center staff if necessary.

Here now are some pointers in choosing the correct babysitter to watch over your children:

* Ask relatives, friends, or neighbors about good babysitters. Many local high schools and even the telephone book can make recommendations about qualified sitters.

* When interviewing possible sitters, check up on their past. Call their contacts and find out about their previous employment.

* Interview a number of sitters before reaching a decision.

* Watch how your children interact with each of the sitters and ask for their opinion on which ones they like the best.

* Outline the babysitter's duties and make sure to leave telephone numbers where you can be reached and emergency numbers.

* Verify their information, name, address, telephone number and even driver's license number, and keep this information.

The correct babysitter or day care center can provide safety for children and a sense of security for parents during the hours after school. If you would like to receive a brochure from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children about day care centers and babysitters please call Legislator Mangano's office at 571-6217.