FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 3, 2000

         GAFFNEY ANNOUNCES COUNTY PLANS TO DEAL
 WITH WEST NILE VIRUS POSSIBILITY

Suffolk's Precautions Best in the State  

Suffolk County Executive Robert J. Gaffney today unveiled Suffolk County's strategies for dealing with the possibility of a recurrence of last year's outbreak of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus.

"The surprise emergence of the West Nile virus, the first such outbreak in the northeast, caught many people by surprise last year," said Gaffney. "While several people in New York City were stricken with the disease, some fatally,  no cases were reported here in Suffolk County. Still, as long as the possibility of another outbreak exists, Suffolk County will be ready to deal with it. The protection of the public's safety is paramount"  

Gaffney said that the County's Department of Health Services has geared up for any possible outbreak. "We have additional staff added to the Health Department's Entomologist's lab for mosquito surveillance, collection and identification, and new equipment to help analyze data. Our Department of Public Works will be adding additional staff for water management programs to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites."

The County Executive pointed out that when the outbreak occurred last year in New York City, the Mayor's office contacted Suffolk County for advice and assistance, and that the County responded immediately. "Suffolk County is known," Gaffney continued, "as being the best prepared municipality in the State to deal with potential problems such as this. We continue to be so."