Reminder: West Nile Spraying Over West Islip Tonight

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services will be conducting pesticide spraying tonight, August 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. in an area stretching from West Babylon to West Bay Shore.

The county will be applying a pesticide known as "resmethrin," under the brand name "Scourge," from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. As it applies to our area, most of West Islip will be sprayed by aircraft overhead.

To date, for the virus in both mosquitoes and dead birds in West Islip.

See if your home is in the spray zone with our custom map.

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Precautions for Spraying

Suffolk County Health Services has stated the chances of experiencing health effects from spraying are low, but advise residents take precautions and extra steps to avoid exposure before, during or after the aerial spraying.

The SCDHS advises residents of these areas to do the following:

• Children and pregnant women should avoid any exposure.
• All people should remain indoors until 30 minutes after spraying has finished.
• Close windows and air vents to your home to avoid pesticides from being sucked indoors.
• Pick any homegrown fruits or vegetables before spraying and rinse thoroughly.
• Bring pet dishes such as bowls indoors during the spraying, and cover any fish ponds.
• If you do come into contact with pesticide, then wash area thoroughly with water.

Further questions could be directed to the Suffolk County Division of Vector Control at 631-852-4270 or the Spraying Information Hotline at 631-852-4939.