West Nile Virus Found in Rye

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found in the City of Rye. The Westchester County Health Department (DOH) made the announcement Tuesday morning. West Nile was also found in Rye in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 – all the years the County have made the testing data available. Other communities that tested positive for West Nile are Croton, Mount Vernon, White Plains and Yonkers.

These are the first positives out of 45 batches of mosquitoes collected by the County Health Department from eight locations throughout Westchester that were tested for West Nile Virus by the New York State Department of Health.

“As you spend more time outdoors, protect yourself and your family by using repellents, especially from dawn to dusk, when many mosquitoes are active,” said Westchester County Commissioner of Health Sherlita Amler, MD. “Apply sunscreen first, and repellent second.”

Throughout the season, the Department also traps and tests mosquitoes to track the presence of mosquito-borne viruses. Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, body aches and joint pain, but can be more serious for people 60 and older, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Tips to Avoid West Nile:

• Avoid the outdoors in the late afternoon and early evening when mosquitoes are active and when outdoors use insect repellents and follow the label instructions.
• Adults can use insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET on infants over two months of age by applying the product to their own hands and then rubbing it onto their children, avoiding their children’s hands, eyes and mouth.
• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors, especially in areas where mosquitoes are active and feeding.
• Check around your property for anything that can hold water, and pour it out or put it Mosquitos don’t travel far from a water source.
• Check and remove standing water from children’s toys and playhouses left outside
• Remove discarded tires
• Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors
• Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets and wheelbarrows when not in use
• Change the water in birdbaths at least twice weekly
• Keep storm drains and gutters clear of leaves and and debris
• Continue to chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas and hot tubs until properly winterized or drained for the season. Also, if not chlorinated, drain any water that collects on their covers.

Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property should report them to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000.