BREWSTER, NY—While flood waters recede, the remaining puddles of standing water pose risks, not the least of which is the invitation to mosquitoes to lay their eggs. New mosquitoes may then develop in anywhere in as little as four days. The Putnam County Department of Health wants to remind residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the illnesses these insects may carry.

“Mosquitoes are more than a simple annoyance,” said interim Health Commissioner, Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD. “Although they do not carry the same risk for disease transmission as ticks do in Putnam County, they can also carry diseases that can be transmitted in a single bite. West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in New York State. Fortunately, there has been only one case in Putnam back in 2011.”

Last year, however, was a peak year for cases in New York’s metropolitan region, which consists of Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island and the seven counties of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Forty-one cases were reported in 2022, as compared to a low of six cases in 2019. Nassau and Suffolk were most highly impacted, with more than 85 percent of the cases occurring in these two counties, and the remaining cases occurring in Westchester and Rockland.

Dr. Nesheiwat continued, explaining possible symptoms, saying, “Most people infected with West Nile don’t develop any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they typically start two to six days, but may be delayed up to 14 days, after the bite of an infected mosquito. About one in five people infected experience fever and sometimes headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a skin rash. Severe cases affecting the central nervous system occur in about 1 in 150 people infected, so remember it is always important to check with your own health care provider. Severe symptoms may include a sudden onset of a headache, high fever, muscle weakness, altered mental status, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, or coma. The infection leads to death in about one out of ten people who develop severe illness.”

Advocating for primary prevention, Dr. Nesheiwat said, “Even though most mosquitoes do not carry disease in our area, if you travel you may encounter mosquitoes that carry more and different diseases than those in New York. As part of your trip preparation, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travelers’ health website to learn if there is risk for diseases like malaria, chikungunya, or dengue at your destination. At home or away, we highly recommend protective tactics.” The CDC website link for travelers’ health is: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/.

When mosquito-borne disease does occur in our area, it usually happens in the second half of summer through the first half of fall, so now is the right time to think about mosquito bite prevention. Among the best ways to reduce mosquitoes in and around a home is to make sure all windows and doors have screens without holes and to reduce the numbers of insects by eliminating all standing water and debris around your home.

Removing water that has accumulated is not an easy task, keeping in mind that mosquitoes can lay an enormous number of eggs in a single bottle cap. These eggs develop and the adult mosquitoes emerge days later to fly off and bite. Items to look for and overturn or unclog include flowerpots, wading pools and pool covers, wheelbarrows, blocked gutters…and anything else that can gather water. It is also recommended to remove leaf litter and change bird baths twice a week.

Another protective action is to cover arms, legs, and feet with clothing, especially when outdoors for long periods of time, or at dawn and dusk when some species are more active. Wearing clothing treated with permethrin can give added protection. Buying permethrin spray to treat clothing and gear at home or purchasing items pre-treated are both good ideas. Permethrin-treated fabric offers protection from mosquitoes and ticks through multiple washings.

EPA-registered insect repellents have been proven to be both a safe and effective way to decrease mosquito bites when used correctly. It is important to follow the label directions carefully, and when using repellents on children, it’s best if the adult applies it to their own hands and then on to the child, rather than applying it directly or letting them do it themselves. Residents can visit the EPA website to learn more about repellents, and their specific active ingredients and effectiveness, and decide what repellent is right for them here: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you.

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit our County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.

For more information, visit:

• https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol
• https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2731/