A 79-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man from Hicksville are the latest Nassau County residents to test positive for the West Nile Virus. So far this year there have been 12 reported cases of the virus on Long Island; seven in Nassau County and five in Suffolk County.

Cynthia Brown, spokesperson for the Nassau County Department of Health (DOH), said that the woman, whose identity is not being released, became ill on Sept. 14. She was hospitalized that same day and her symptoms included a fever, headache and an altered mental state. Her condition was not known as of press time. The Hicksville man, whose name was also withheld, suffered a fever, headache and rash. He was hospitalized on Sept. 13 and released on Sept. 18.

To date, five other Nassau County residents have tested positive for the virus, including a 69-year-old Plainview man; a 77-year-old Mineola man; an 83-year-old Massapequa woman; a 19-year-old Hempstead man; and a 68-year-old Rockville Centre woman. With the exception of the Hicksville woman, all prior cases in Nassau have been treated and released from area hospitals.

According to a press release from the Nassau County DOH, the departments of Health and Public Works have intensified mosquito surveillance activities in the Hicksville, Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Massapequa, Mineola and Plainview areas. Although Nassau County has no plans to spray for adult mosquitoes at this time, they are inspecting for breeding sites and, when necessary, will apply larvicide.

In a prepared statement, Commissioner of Health David M. Ackman, MD, MPH, said, "Although West Nile remains a disease that primarily affects the elderly, we recommend that everyone takes reasonable precautions to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. Mosquito season will be with us until there are two good frosts."

To eliminate the chance of contracting West Nile and to reduce mosquitoes in the area, the Nassau County DOH is reminding residents to:

* Remove or empty standing water from old tires, garbage cans or any object that can hold water

* Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall

* Keep swimming pools chlorinated and their covers free of stagnant water

* Change the water in birdbaths every two to three days

* Keep window and door screens in good repair

* Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and from dusk to dawn.

Dead birds can be reported by calling (toll-free) 1-866-537-2473 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To report dead birds or a mosquito problem call the Department of Health Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at 571-8707. The latest West Nile information is available by calling 571-2500, 24 hours a day or by visiting www.co.nassau.ny.us/health.