VALLEY STREAM, NY - With the peak mosquito season underway, Central Veterinary Associates is asking bird owners to protect their pets against West Nile Virus (WNV) as best as possible after a mosquito pool tested positive for the virus this month.
The New York State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) announced that it is peak mosquito season, which runs until October 31. On July 6, the agency reported that a mosquito pool in the Staten Island section of Eltingville tested positive for WNV. In 2010, the DOHMH found 393 mosquito pools that tested positive for WNV in New York City - the most since 1999 - of which 164 were in Queens County.
West Nile Virus is transmitted through an infected mosquito, which might have been infected by a dead bird which contracted the virus. According to the New York State Department of Health, the virus was first found in New York in 1999 when a large number of crows were found dead in numerous parts of the state.
Central Veterinary Associates offers the following tips:
— Keep birds indoors, particularly at dawn and dusk.
— When bringing pet birds outdoors, provide a mosquito-proof enclosure with a screen or mosquito netting.
— Check windows to make sure all screens are intact.
— Keep birds away from habitats where mosquitoes breed, such as standing water.
"It is imperative that that those who own a bird take precautions and special care of their pets during West Nile Virus season," said Dr. Steven Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Central Veterinary Associates. "While you enjoy having your pet around for this summer season, all pet owners should be mindful of the virus and how easily their pet may be exposed to it."
For more information or to make an appointment, call 1 (888) 4CVA-PET (428-2738) or visit www.centralvets.com.
