Bird Mites Swarm Levittown Woman

On Thursday, June 6, a woman from Levittown had herself and home infested with bird mites.

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Just before 9 PM, a call was placed for 100 Saddle Lane, for a woman having trouble breathing. First on the scene was Nassau County Police who quickly asked for medical assistance. Both Levittown and Wantagh Fire Departments responded along with Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Amblunce Corporation, County Haz Mat and NCPD ESU.

The woman, Nina Bradica, 47, was placed in a Haz Mat suit, to prevent the spread of the mites to first responders and vehicles. Bradica was then transported by WLVAC to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. She is currently quarantined and is under observation and treatment.

Reports are that an old birds nest was in a bathroom vent and is the most probable source of the bird mites. Nina Bradica is one of two tenants in this house which is divided into two apartments.

The Nassau County Department of Health has stated that there is no public health hazard.

Bird mites are tiny parasites, sometimes mistakenly identified as fleas. The mites can grow up to .5 mm and are difficult to see with the naked-eye. These mites often bite humans when young birds, their main source of food, leave their nest. Bird mites are most active at night. Once a home is infested, it is very hard for that home to be fully eradicated of the mites. Some human symptoms are red bumps, small pinprick bites, intense itching and a crawling type sensation on the skin.

Wantagh News was there this morning; 100 Saddle Lane is on the southwest corner of Saddle and Ring Lane, the home itself was not quarantined or blocked off and every window in the house was fully opened. The house is a 2-story levitt-built cape.