Suffolk County Health

09/04/2026

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is reminding you of these critical health risks associated with bats.

Approximately 5% of bats sent for testing in Suffolk County tested positive for rabies. Bats can spread rabies to humans, wildlife and unvaccinated pets. Bats spread rabies mostly though a bite, however, sometimes people may not know if they were bitten since the bite may not leave a significant mark. It is possible for a bat to bite someone while asleep, or a person who is not able to communicate what occurred.

To keep bats from entering, ensure windows have screens, chimneys are capped and openings larger than ½ inch are sealed. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services does NOT trap bats. If you encounter a bat, SCDHS encourages you to contact a New York State DEC Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. A list can be found at https://appfactory.dec.ny.gov/SpecialLicensesSearchSystem/Nwco

If you are unable to contact a trapper and are going to trap the bat yourself:
• Avoid direct contact with the bat and wait for the bat to land
• Wear gloves, cover the bat with a container and slide cardboard underneath
• Turn the container upside down and put on a lid

Rabies is almost always fatal in humans, however, post exposure treatment, which is offered by SCDHS, is nearly 100% effective. If you come in contact with a bat, contact SCHDS at 631-854-0333 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or after hours at 631-852-4820.

For more information, visit https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Health-Services/Diseases-and-Illness/Report-Animal-Bites

09/03/2026

As children and teens head back to school this week, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is offering these important reminders to optimize your child’s health:

💤Return to a consistent sleep routine: Ensuring children get enough sleep will help them feel rested and optimize learning.
💦Stay hydrated: It is important for children to drink water regularly.
🍎 Plan a nutritious lunch: Balanced meals help children grow, support focus, provide energy and fight illness.
👋Regularly wash hands: It is important to wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the restroom.
📚Keep sick children home: Children need rest in order to recover, and keeping them home will prevent the spread of illness.
✏️Check in emotionally: Take time to check in on how your child is adjusting to the new routine.

We hope everyone has a happy and healthy school year!

09/02/2026

To reduce mosquitoes around your home, be sure to empty accumulated water on a weekly basis from buckets, tires, bird baths, and other containers where water can collect. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/ABDLmosquito

09/01/2026

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is announcing that 19 additional mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito samples, Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected on August 18 and August 19 in the following locations-Cold Spring Harbor (1), Fire Island Pines (3), Watch Hill, Fire Island (2), Mastic Beach (1), Aquebogue (2), West Babylon (2), Lindenhurst (2), Bay Shore (1), Bohemia (1), Sayville (1), Mount Sinai (1), Rocky Point (1) and Setauket (1).

To date this season, 104 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus, and three mosquito samples have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus. Previously, two deceased crows found on June 24 in Ronkonkoma and one found on August 5 in Nesconset tested positive for West Nile virus. One adult resident, who lives in the town of Brookhaven, tested positive and was not hospitalized.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

08/31/2026

The Skeeter Meter has been updated to moderate in our area but mosquitos are still out and about. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is reminding you that mosquitos may spread West Nile virus, which can cause severe illness in some people.

SCDHS is continuing to remind residents of these tips to prevent bites:

Wear pants and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts.
Consider using an EPA-registered insect repellents and treat only clothing with permethrin.
Always follow repellent label instructions.
Cover strollers or baby carriers with mosquito netting.
Use screens on windows and doors and repair holes.
Make an effort to empty any outdoor items that hold water once a week

08/31/2026

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day and this year’s theme is “25 Years On. Still Needed,” to recognize the 25 years of this initiative.

The goal is to spread awareness about fatal and not-fatal overdoses. It is important to remember the loved ones we have lost to overdoses and honor their memory by working to combat the epidemic.

Overdoses can affect anyone, in any area, and most importantly, they can be prevented—especially with help from the community.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services Division of Mental Hygiene offers the county’s behavioral health directory, an online guide of services available to the public to offer support for individuals and families for substance use, mental illness and more. To view the guide, visit https://apps2.suffolkcountyny.gov/health/bhs. Important information can also be found at SuffolkStopAddiction.org.

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

Building a healthier community starts with active engagement. Last weekend, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services External Activities Committee was out across the county interacting with the public during specialized events.

Members of the Perinatal Health Services Program, the Division of Service for Children with Special Needs, the Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory, and other divisions attended several events including a Health Fair in Shirley and Back to School fairs in Central Islip, Ronkonkoma and Centereach.

Thank you to our dedicated SCDHS employees for their hard work, and to the residents who took the time to discuss our services. The next time you see us, don’t hesitate to stop over and say hello!

08/28/2026

As the summer wraps up, so do the seasonal internships in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.

The interns at the Suffolk County Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory certainly kept busy during their time here. Their work included collecting ticks at locations throughout Suffolk County. They also worked to organize and identify the ticks and mosquitos before they were sent off for testing by New York State. The work of identifying ticks and mosquitos from various locations is a vital tool to educate the public as well as health care providers to determine the type of germs they may carry and strategies to avoid them. This is work is essential for the health and well-being of those in our area.

The interns came from schools on Long Island and throughout the country. They have educational backgrounds that include not only science but also history and the arts. No matter what their futures hold, the experience gained during their time here will be a valuable resource in their future endeavors.

For more information on internships with SCDHS, visit SuffolkCountyNY.gov/Health.

08/27/2026

You are never too young to make a difference in your community. That was the case when a local Girl Scout troop collaborated with the Suffolk County Parks Department to address food insecurity and provide toiletries for those in need. Legislator Greg Doroski highlighted their achievements during an event in Riverhead on August 22.

The event, Our Nature, Our Health, was hosted by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and the Stony Brook Office of Health Equity and Climate Medicine Research, at the Riverhead Library. Many residents joined the group and the speakers discussed the health benefits of walking and being outside in nature.

If you are looking to join SCDHS at the final Nature Walk this season, you can find us at the Nissequogue River State Park in Kings Park on August 29 at 10 a.m. Registration is required and you can contact [email protected].