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Fifth Human West Nile Case Confirmed in Town of Babylon

Latest finding gives town most reported human cases in the county this year.

Babylon Town now has two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus.

The Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services Dr. James L. Tomarken made the announcement on Thursday afternoon, indicating this is the fifth confirmed case of the virus in Suffolk County this year.

It was confirmed, according to health officials, by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

SCDHS officials described the person who contracted the virus in a release as an adult who's younger than 55 years of age and from the Town of Babylon .

This person, officials said, experienced symptoms consistent with the West Nile virus. The individual was hospitalized in early October and has since been discharged, they noted.

Due to privacy laws, the SCDHS isn't able to provide more specifics about the individual or exactly where in Babylon Town is.

Of the four other people in Suffolk County that contracted the virus, two were over the age of 55, one from the Town of Islip and Town of Huntington. The others were under 55 and from Brookhaven and Babylon Townships.

This year's West Nile virus breakout was the largest in the history of the country. Over 1,100 cases in people were reported alone in 2012.

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Adam Crowley May 15, 2013 at 06:53 pm
As I explained, my post was made on behalf of another village resident. However, I did take theRead More time to read the statute and do have an independent viewpoint on this subject. While I do not feel that all dogs require a muzzle at all times, if you have a dog that you know to be a threat to other dogs or humans, you would have a duty to take measures to eliminate that threat before bring that dog into public. If that measure is a muzzle, then that's what must be done. As my post indicated, I believe strict enforcement would be exceedingly difficult and, perhaps, unnecessary (at least with respect to the muzzle requirement). However, a total lack of enforcement is dangerous and unacceptable. I think a little common sense goes a long way and I have confidence that those charged with enforcing the Village code could do so selectively. I understand that selective enforcement may be a concept that many feel uncomfortable with. However, just because the law requires a muzzle, that is hardly a reason to disregard it in its entirety and allow dogs with vicious propensities to roam around unleashed. I will leave it up to Village lawmakers to remove the muzzle requirement (and suggest that they do so) if that is what it would take to make people comfortable with the leash requirement.
Concerned Citizen May 15, 2013 at 05:37 pm
Did you read the law? unless it be properly muzzled and effectively restrained by a chain or leashRead More I'll bet neither dog was muzzled Do you really want them to enforce this law