Kin to Sue Over Deaths From Insect-Borne Virus
Families of two people who died of West Nile virus plan to sue Nassau County for not spraying to kill infected mosquitoes.
After spraying insecticide by helicopter in 1999 when the virus was found in the region, the Long Island county limited spraying in 2000 to one smaller area and this year did not spray at all.
Karl Fink, 77, of East Meadow, died last week of complications from the disease.
His son, Charles Fink, told the New York Times: “We’re definitely going to file a suit.” The other victim, Adeline Bisignano, 71, also of East Meadow, died in October, and her husband said he had already consulted a lawyer.
Nassau officials said they did not find sufficient numbers of mosquitoes in traps to justify spraying.
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