DATE: August 24, 2000

HEADLINE: UPDATE ON WEST NILE VIRUS

CONTACT: Jacquelyn Gailor, Public Health Director

PHONE: 607-753-5036

This morning, August 24, 2000, a blue jay found on Syrian Hill Road, McGraw, was identified as being infected with West Nile Virus. The County Health Department is continuing to respond to this Public Health Threat in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control Guidelines. There are very few companies available in upstate New York who are certified to larvicide or to spray. The company we are working with is busy in other counties who have had positive birds before Cortland County. We hope to be starting our larvicide program on Wednesday, August 30, 2000.

We are continuing to trap mosquitoes to identify areas where the mosquitoes known to carry the virus are located. These traps are set out in the evening and some of them have lights to attract mosquitoes therefore people should consider a "new light" in the neighborhood might be one of these lights. We are notifying each property owner before placing a trap. We are also identifying locations of possible breeding sites. Community reports of possible sites have been valuable to us in carrying out this task. Health Department staff are visiting sites that have been reported to help us determine if they should be larvicided.

We now have some information and a bird reporting form available on the Cortland County Web Site at: www.cortland-co.org.

Everyone in Cortland County needs to Remember:

• Use personal protection
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites
• Report all dead birds to the County Health Department at 753-5035 or our website
• Seek medical attention if ill