A letter left in mailboxes throughout parts of Nassau County threatening people with arrest if they’re outside during mosquito spraying — is a hoax.
The letter, purportedly signed by “Supervisor Charles Mangano,” [an attempted reference to County Executive Ed Mangano] states spraying will be done by helicopter for the next five Saturdays, starting this weekend, and that police will patrol the area to arrest anyone outside during that time, county officials said.
“On the day of your town being sprayed, it is important for all children to stay inside their houses with the doors and windows closed,” according to the fake notice, which has several spelling and grammatical errors. “Please do not answer the door. Spray is extremely dangerous and could be deadly. All children must be inside there [sic.] house from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm. Police will be driving in the area to arrest any person outside during that time.”
It ends with “remember any person outside at the time of their town’s mosquito spraying will be arrest and put in jail for their own safety.”
All that is “completely false,” said Nassau health and police officials as well as County Executive Edward Mangano’s office.
“Spraying is not needed because mosquito season is practically over. There would be no public health reason to do that,” said Nassau County Health Department spokesperson Mary Ellen Laurain.
When spraying is scheduled, the county notifies the public through municipalities and other ways, including automated phone calls, news alerts, social media, website postings and the Nassau Now app.