WNV-L Archive Back to the West Nile Virus listserv archive. 7 - Birds submitted to the New York State Department of Health for laboratory testing from Broome, Franklin, and Niagara counties were found to be infected with West Nile virus, Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. Previously, a crow from the city of Schenectady was found to beinfected with West Nile virus. Still, people throughout the State need to be aware of the disease, and take steps to protect themselves, particularly those at highest risk. Individuals who are most susceptible to the virus, particularly people older than 50, should adopt personal protection measures that will help to reduce the risk of being bitten by a mosquito infected with West Nile virus.
Birds serve as the reservoir for West Nile virus, after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Since symptoms begin to show 5 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, it can be presumed that he was bitten before the July 19th pesticide spraying of southern Staten Island. After one week in the hospital, the patient was released and is now at home recovering. Additional confirmatory test results will be available in another week. Staten Island was sprayed with mosquito adulticides on July 19 and again on August 2. In addition, more than 40 lakes, ponds, and marshes on Staten Island received aerial applications of larvicide on July 27 and 28, and larviciding of catch basins is ongoing.