Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In West Haven

WEST HAVEN, CT — Mosquitoes in West Haven recently tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to officials. In addition to West Haven, West Nile-infected mosquitoes have been detected in Bridgeport, Chester, East Haven, Greenwich, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, New Haven, North Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Voluntown, West Hartford and Wethersfield, according to officials at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

“We continue to see exceptionally high numbers of mosquitoes carrying EEE virus especially in communities in southeastern Connecticut,” Dr. Philip Armstrong, medical entomologist at the CAES said. “In addition, we are detecting WNV in numerous towns throughout the state. Late summer-early fall is the critical time of the year when virus activity reaches its peak in the mosquito population.”

Mosquitoes collected from a trap on Thill Street in West Haven tested positive for West Nile Virus. Several mosquitoes also tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, which causes mild, flu-like symptoms in most people, but can lead to more serious illnesses, such as meningitis and encephalitis. Human cases are comparatively rare but are on the rise (166 cases from 2004 to 2018), according to officials.

Mosquitoes infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been detected in: Chester, Haddam, Hampton, Killingworth, Madison, North Stonington, Plainfield, Shelton, Stonington and Voluntown.

“We are experiencing an extremely active season for EEE throughout much of the northeastern U.S., with multiple human and horse cases now being reported in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island,” Dr. Theodore Andreadis, director of the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases at the CAES, said. “We strongly encourage residents throughout the state to take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites. This includes applying insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when biting mosquitoes are most active.”

There have been no reported human cases of EEE or WNV infection so far this year in Connecticut, according to officials. Two horse cases of EEE (in Colchester and Columbia) and one horse case of WNV infection (in Easton) have been reported in Connecticut this year, officials said.

EEE is a “rare but serious” mosquito-borne viral disease in people and horses, according to a news release. Around 30 percent of people infected with the virus die and many survivors have neurologic problems. In Connecticut, outbreaks of EEE have occurred sporadically in horses since 1938 and the first-recorded human case was in 2013 and the person died.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, officials say 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 of time, or when mosquitoes are more 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.