Is your child going to sleep away camp? Are they going to live in a dorm?
“These free vaccines provide protection against some of the bacteria that can cause meningitis,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Commissioner of Health. “I strongly encourage parents to take advantage of our free meningococcal vaccines in May. Older teens who haven’t had any meningococcal shots should get one as soon as possible, and preteens should get the shot when they are 11 or 12 and then have a booster shot at age 16.”
Meningitis is a swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord that can be very serious and even fatal. Call today for an appointment. Students under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Friday, May 1 and 15, White Plains District Office, 134 Court St., White Plains, Call (914) 995-5800
• Friday, May 8, Yonkers District Office, 20 S. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Yonkers, Call (914) 231-2500
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE MINNOWS TO RESIDENTS
Fish are part of the county’s West Nile Prevention Strategy; Larviciding Begins Friday
To eliminate mosquito breeding sites and prevent the spread of West Nile Virus, the Westchester County Health Department will begin to apply larvicide to county catch basins starting on Friday, May 1, and on the following Thursday, May 7, through Saturday, May 9, will give out free fathead minnows to residents with ornamental ponds.
Health department larviciding teams will start in the northern part of the county and work their way south, evaluating and treating as needed all catch basins on county and municipal roads throughout the county over the next few months.
To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, all residents should eliminate standing water from around their properties, especially after it rains. Large areas of standing water on public property that cannot easily be removed should be reported to the Health Department by calling (914) 813-5000.
“With the help of residents, together we can reduce the mosquito population and keep cases of West Nile Virus to a minimum,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Commissioner of Health. “Please survey your property routinely and empty standing water from any discarded tires, unchlorinated swimming pools, outdoor pottery, pails, birdbaths or other containers throughout the spring and summer.”
To keep ornamental ponds from becoming mosquito breeding sites, the county has 200 pounds of fathead minnows to distribute Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents who want the minnows should bring a bucket or a pail to Loop Road, Building two at the Westchester County Airport. The building is the first right from the airport access road.
“We have distributed thousands of these little larval eating machines over the past two years and I am excited that we are once again sharing with our residents this natural strategy to control the mosquito population,” said Peter DeLucia, Assistant Commissioner for Public Health Protection.
The minnows reduce the mosquito population because they feed on mosquito larvae and pupae before they emerge into adult mosquitoes. They are well suited to ornamental ponds and can help reduce the spread of West Nile Virus because culex pipiens, the mosquito that can be a carrier of West Nile Virus, breeds in standing water, such as ponds and containers. They should be released in ponds that have a minimum of eight to twelve inches of water.
PAUL FEINER
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