STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Health Department announced Tuesday that it has detected mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus in New York City for the first time this season.

The infected Culex mosquitoes were collected in the Bronx and on Staten Island.

As a result, the city will install additional mosquito monitoring traps. There currently are 53 surveillance sites across the city, officials said.

To combat the mosquitoes, the Health Department disperses crews to spray pesticide targeting mosquitoes where persistent West Nile virus activity is detected. The city also applies larvicide in catch basins, marshland and other areas with standing water to kill mosquito larvae before they can bite.

The Health Department has already begun catch basin larviciding this year. One helicopter-based larviciding event also was conducted in marsh areas on Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx this month

SYMPTOMS OF VIRUS, RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

No human cases of West Nile virus have been detected yet this mosquito season, which typically runs from April through September.

The most common symptoms are headache, fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue. Symptoms of more severe illness also can include changes in mental status and muscle weakness requiring hospitalization.

Anyone with symptoms of West Nile virus is advised to contact their doctor.

To reduce the chances of being exposed to mosquitoes, New Yorkers can take the following precautions:

WEST NILE VIRUS IN NYC

The West Nile virus was first detected in the city 21 years ago. Since 1999, the number of human cases has ranged from three to 47 annually. Of the 353 total West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease cases, 46 have died due to infection.

New York City has more than 40 species of mosquitos, though West Nile virus is transmitted primarily by several Culex species.

For more information about West Nile virus or to report standing water, visit nyc.gov/health/wnv or call 311.

Excerpt from:

Mosquitoes with West Nile detected on Staten Island; first time this season in NYC - SILive.com