Provided by Oswego County

OSWEGO, NY - Dr. Dennis Norfleet, Interim Public Health Director for the Oswego County Health Department, announced that the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus was found in a pool of mosquitoes collected near the village of Central Square in August.

This is the second isolation of EEE in Oswego County this summer. The virus was found in a species of mosquito that feeds on birds, not in mosquitoes that feed on humans or mammals, said Dr. Norfleet.

Dr. Norfleet said people in and near Central Square should be aware of the presence of the virus and take precautionary measures to protect against mosquito bites.

The mosquitoes were collected Aug. 18 east of the village of Central Square and sent to the state health department’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories near Albany for testing.

“The fact that the mosquito population declines steadily during the month of September is in our favor,” said Dr. Norfleet. “We continue to work with the New York State Health Department and are closely monitoring the population of bird-biting and mammal-biting species. Aerial spraying against mosquitoes is not warranted at this time.”

EEE is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. In rare cases, EEE causes inflammation and swelling of the brain. Symptoms include sudden high fever, muscle pains, and a headache of increasing severity.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

To help reduce the risk of EEE and other viruses carried by mosquitoes, people should:

Avoid outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

Wear shoes, long pants with bottoms tucked into boots or socks, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time.

Use mosquito repellent according to label directions.

Empty pails, swimming pool covers, flower pots and other containers of standing water around the home and yard.

Remove all discarded tires from around your property.

Replace or repair broken screens.

For more information about EEE and other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, call the Oswego County Health Department at 349-3564 or 1-800-596-3200, ext. 3564, or visit the New York State Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm

Oswego Harborfest has announced that the popular 50-50 Raffle to benefit Harborfest will return in 2009.

Farnham Family Services, an Oswego-based substance abuse treatment and prevention center, is now selling tickets for its 2009 Changing Lives Raffle.

As this column goes to press the 152nd Oswego County Fair should be in full swing at Sandy Creek. During the previous week the Heritage building was stocked full with many new and unique exhibits. We even brought down a piano for some live music!