West Nile Virus Detected At William Floyd Estate: Fire Island Officials

MASTIC BEACH, NY — The West Nile Virus has been detected in a mosquito sample for the first time this year at the William Floyd Estate at Mastic Beach on Fire Island National Seashore, officials said Wednesday.

Suffolk health department officials announced Tuesday that one of two samples to test positive in the Town of Brookhaven came from Mastic Beach, and the other Port Jefferson.

Park staff collects weekly samples of mosquitoes to test for the virus. It was last detected within national seashore lands in August 2025 and has been detected yearly since 2023.

The mosquitoes were collected on July 25, from a trap set by Suffolk County as part of its mosquito monitoring program.

The program is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the county's Department of Health Services – Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory that helps the park assess risk levels and inform public safety alerts and recommendations.

Reducing exposure to mosquitoes is the best prevention method for mosquito-borne diseases, especially in warmer months when mosquitoes are most abundant. To help prevent getting mosquito-borne illness:

• Wear insect repellents that contain DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (Para-menthane-dio); follow label instructions and reapply as needed.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks outdoors when weather permits.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing permethrin according to manufacturer instructions.
• Use air conditioning and intact window/door screens for buildings or screened tents/mosquito netting while camping or in cabins.
• See the NPS.gov for additional details.

For general information on West Nile Virus, contact your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control, New York State, or Suffolk County West Nile Virus websites.