New Canaan 1 Of Several CT Towns With West Nile Mosquitoes: State

NEW CANAAN, CT — Last month, the state warned that mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus had been trapped in New Canaan, and now officials are adding more Connecticut communities to the list.

In addition to New Canaan, mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been found in Bridgeport, Easton, Stratford and Waterbury, as of July 17, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). Residents of those and other Connecticut communities are urged to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

"Mosquito-borne illness is a threat to take seriously, especially from now until well into
September," said Dr. Raul Pino, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, in a statement. "I ask everyone to prevent mosquito bites by eliminating standing water around your home,
making sure your door and window screens are in good repair, and covering bare skin and using
insect repellent when outside – especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active."

Added Dr. Philip Armstrong, Medical Entomologist at the CAES, "The current indicators suggest a very active season for WNV. Mosquito populations are building and will continue to do so, especially with the persistence of hot-muggy weather. The surrounding states are also reporting early WNV activity."

From the Department of Public Health release:

The mosquitoes were collected from June 18 to July 10, 2018, by CAES.

No human or horse cases have been reported with WNV-associated illnesses in Connecticut this season. Since 2000, 134 human cases of WNV have been diagnosed in Connecticut residents including three fatalities.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes residents should:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  
• Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
  
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
  
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
  
• Consider the use of mosquito repellent, according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.
  

The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities
throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday through Thursday nights at each site every
ten days on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species,
collection site, and date. Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the
CAES website at http://www.ct.gov/caes/mosquitotesting.

For information on West Nile virus and how to prevent mosquito bites, visit the Connecticut
Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.

Image via Shutterstock

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