WHITE PLAINS - The Westchester County Department of Health today begins applying larvicide to catch basins throughout the county and is reminding residents to eliminate standing water from around their properties to keep mosquitoes away.

The combined efforts of residents and county government have succeeded over the past few years in reducing the mosquito population, which has eliminated the need to spray pesticides and resulted in few human cases of West Nile Virus,’’ said County Executive Andrew Spano. “To keep mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus from breeding in Westchester, residents and business owners must do their part, too.’’

Large areas of standing water that cannot easily be removed should be reported to the Health Department by calling (914) 813-5000 or by logging onto www.westchestergov.com/health and completing an online form.

“I’m sure that most residents will be surprised to learn that the majority of those infected with West Nile Virus likely contracted the illness right in their own backyards,’’ said county Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman. “Discarded tires, unchlorinated swimming pools, outdoor pottery, sand pails and birdbaths are popular breeding sites for mosquitoes that can carry West Nile Virus. That’s why it is so important that everyone survey your property routinely and dump out standing  water from these and other containers throughout the spring and summer.’’