Nassau County will begin aerial spraying to control mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus Wednesday evening while Suffolk County officials have expanded the areas where they will conduct ground spraying.
Nassau health officials said the aerial spraying will begin 7 p.m. Wednesday and continue through 5 a.m. Thursday.
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There has been more viral activity in mosquitoes this year, as evidenced by positive samples have been found in 49 traps, officials said. To combat the threat, the spraying will cover about 78,000 acres, up from 55,000 acres when aerial spraying was last conducted in 2008.
The pesticide plane will spray areas between the New York City line to the Suffolk County line from Route 25A to Sunrise Highway. East of the Wantagh State Parkway, the spraying will target areas north of the Southern State Parkway and east of Route 107, spraying will be conducted south of Route 25.
Nassau officials also said that plans to conduct ground spraying Tuesday evening on the North Shore were rescheduled for Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. Plandome, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights, Manhasset, Munsey Park, Flower Hill, Port Washington and Sands Point will be sprayed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
During the same time period, officials will target Massapequa Park and East Massapequa as well as sections of Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head and Old Brookville.
Rain dates are set for Thursday and Monday.
Suffolk officials announced Tuesday that in addition to areas previously highlighted, they will conduct ground spraying in Islandia and Lakeland from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday as well as Summer Club and Atlantique sections of Fire Island between 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday while Fire Island Pines, Water Island and Ocean Bay Park will be sprayed during the same time period on Thursday evening. In addition, Smith Point County Park will be sprayed 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday.
Babylon, West Babylon, North Babylon, West Islip and West Bay Shore will also be sprayed from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Nassau residents can call the West Nile Virus Spray Hotline at 1-888-844-8657. Suffolk residents can call the Spraying Information Hotline at 631-852-4939.
