The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), a separate state agency, is responsible for trapping, identifying, and testing mosquitoes for encephalitis viruses. More than 25 scientists and support staff conduct the statewide surveillance program annually. Research is also an important component. During 1999, Station scientists were the first to culture and characterize the West Nile encephalitis virus from mosquitoes collected in North America. They also have identified the major mosquito vectors of West Nile virus in Connecticut. In addition, Station scientists found that the American robin is a favorite host for some mosquitoes and is an important carrier of the virus. Other findings revealed that Culex salinarius, a mosquito that breeds in brackish and fresh water, is the probable "bridge vector" moving the virus from birds to mammals. Of the top 100 science stories of 2005, Discover Magazine (January 2006 issue) ranked these recent discoveries at #43. Other results indicating the presence of Potosi and La Crosse viruses in the state represent new records for New England.
Entomology Today Article : Mosquito Populations Linked Across Further Distances Than the Viruses They Carry
April 2023--Mosquito Trapping and Arbovirus Surveillance Program Brochure
Insect Repellent Essentials: A Brief Guide
MOSQUITO TESTING RESULTS - Updated November 7
Cumulative Mosquito Testing Summary:
Latest Testing Results - Week of: [November 6]
Towns with Eastern Equine Encephalitis Infected Mosquitoes:
Canterbury, Colchester, Griswold, Hampton, Killingly, Ledyard, Mansfield, North Stonington, Plainfield, South Windsor, Sprague, Stonington, Thompson, Tolland, Voluntown, Willington, Windham, Woodstock
Counties with Eastern Equine Encephalitis Veterinary Cases:
New London (Horse), Windham (Emu, Horse)
2023 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Map
2023 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Graph
Towns with West Nile Virus Infected Mosquitoes:
Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Canterbury, Colchester, Danbury, Darien, East Haddam, East Haven, East Lyme, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hampton, Hartford, Hebron, Killingworth, Ledyard, Lyme, Manchester, Mansfield, Meriden, Middlefield, Milford, Montville, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Stonington, Tolland, Trumbull, Voluntown, Wallingford, Waterbury, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wethersfield, Willington, Wilton
Counties with West Nile Virus Human Cases:
Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven
2023 West Nile Virus Activity Map
2023 West Nile Virus Activity Graph
Previous Testing Results - Week of:
[June 12] [June 19] [June 26] [July 3] [July 10] [July 17] [July 24]
[July 31] [August 7] [August 14] [August 21] [August 28] [September 4]
[September 11] [September 18] [September 25]
[October 2] [October 9] [October 16] [October 23] [October 30]
State of Connecticut Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Response Plan
Map of Mosquito Trapping Stations:[2023] [2022] [2021] [2020] [2019]
List of Mosquito Trapping Locations: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2020] [2019]
Summary of Testing Results 2022
Summary of Testing Results 2021
Summary of Testing Results 2020
Summary of Testing Results 2019
2022 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Map
2021 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Map
2020 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Map
2020 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Activity Graph
2019 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity Map
2019 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity Graph
2022 West Nile Virus Activity Map
2022 West Nile Virus Activity Graph
2021 West Nile Virus Activity Map
2021 West Nile Virus Activity Graph
2020 West Nile Virus Activity Map
2020 West Nile Virus Activity Graph
2019 West Nile Virus Activity Map
2019 West Nile Virus Activity Graph
State of Connecticut Mosquito Trapping and Arbovirus Testing Program--Historical Information (1998-2018)
The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program
(https://portal.ct.gov/mosquito) (for additional mosquito and virus information)
CAES Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases
State of Connecticut
Zika Virus Surveillance and Response Plan, 2016
Symposium on EEE and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Connecticut (March 9, 2020)
Symposium Agenda
Reflections on the Ecology and Epidemiology of EEE in the Northeastern US
EEE in Connecticut: Risk Assessment and Response to the 2019 Outbreak
Mosquito Surveillance for EEE Virus and Other Arboviruses in Connecticut
Biology, Ecology, and Feeding Behavior of Mosquitoes in Connecticut
Options for Mosquito Control
Additional Information
Surveillance for Mosquito-Borne Disease Among Connecticut Residents
Jamestown Canyon Virus Revisited: Are We Neglecting an Under Recognized Mosquito-Born Disease
Symposium on Vector-Borne Diseases in Connecticut (March 6, 2015)
http://publichealth.mediasite.com/mediasite/Catalog/Full/125247f5c31d4681a89218c0b34c1fc221?preview=anzgwnzuvds44zgk2gzlheq4_catalogPreview
- Results-Based Accountability Program Description
- 2011 Results-Based Accountability Report Card: Prevention and Control of Emerging Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Identification Guide to the Mosquitoes of Connecticut Theodore G. Andreadis, Michael C. Thomas, and John J. Shepard
Andreadis, T. G. 2009. Trapping and Testing Program for Mosquito-Borne Viruses to Begin June 1. Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Connecticut Weekly Agricultural Report, Wednesday, June 10, 2009.
Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. 2009. Experiment Station in Forefront of Efforts to Monitor, Test for Mosquito-Borne Viruses. 24(2).
West Nile Virus. Connecticut Epidemiologist. June 2014. R. Nelson, T. Andreadis and P. Armstrong.
Human Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis - Connecticut 2013. Connecticut Epidemiologist. R. Nelson, T. Ciesielski, T. Andreadis and P. Armstrong.
Connecticut Mosquito Management Plan
In 1997, Public Act 97-289, "An Act Concerning Mosquito Control and Aerial Application of Pesticides", created the Mosquito Management Program to monitor mosquito breeding populations for the prevalence of infectious agents that can cause disease in humans and to determine when measures to abate any threat are necessary. The original focus of the program was to monitor the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The Act authorizes the necessary measures to abate any pest-borne threat, including prevention and remedial measures, and allows for the aerial application of broad spectrum chemical pesticides to address an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare posed by pests, including mosquitoes that carry the EEE virus.
The Mosquito Management Program is coordinated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The DEEP is responsible for the systematic identification and monitoring of mosquito breeding sites, the provision of technical assistance to municipalities and private property owners regarding mosquito control, and the collection and communication of information and data. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is responsible for the trapping, identification, and arbovirus testing of mosquitoes. The Department of Public Health (DPH) is responsible for reviewing all mosquito test data and consulting with the DEEP and the CAES regarding the epidemiologic significance of such results. Based upon its evaluation of the potential human health risks, the DPH advises as to appropriate personal, municipal, and state actions to reduce such risks. An EEE/WNV Working Group, consisting of staff from the DEEP, DPH, CAES, and DAG modifies, as necessary, the State EEE/WNV surveillance and response plans and reports to and advises the Commissioner of the DEP regarding their implementation.
The Mosquito Management Program is a health-based program that focuses on preventive efforts and mosquito monitoring for early detection of EEE and WNV. It is based on an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which includes a combination of surveillance, education, source reduction, larval and adult mosquito control and personal protection measures.
Public health surveillance is the ongoing and systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data in the process of describing and monitoring a health event. This information is used for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health interventions and programs. Surveillance data are used both to determine the need for public health action and to assess the effectiveness of programs. Surveillance activities are at the core of Connecticut’s Mosquito Management Program and include surveillance for EEE and WNV in mosquitoes, wild birds, domestic animals and poultry, and humans. The objectives of surveillance are to:
- Rapidly detect the occurrence of EEE and WNV and the extent of its geographic distribution.
- Assess the potential threat to humans and domestic animals or birds.
- Guide implementation of control measures and justify the need for additional mosquito trapping locations.
- Determine whether transmission is occurring outside of the mosquito-wild bird cycle.
- Obtain data to assess the risk of EEE or WNV infection to domestic animals and poultry and assess the need to develop a vaccine for domestic animals.
Mosquito Surveillance
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is responsible for trapping, identifying and testing mosquitoes for EEE and WNV virus. Mosquito trapping is conducted daily from June through October at 108 permanent locations throughout the state. Trap sites include freshwater swamps (red maple/white cedar), residential vegetated areas along waterways, wetlands, and undeveloped wood lots known or suspected to support mosquito populations that have tested positive for EEE or WNV, are capable of supporting such populations, or are near locations where EEE-related human, horse, pheasant, or emu deaths, or WNV human, horse, or bird deaths have occurred. This program provides information on the:
- Composition and relative abundance of mosquito species.
- Seasonal and spatial distribution of mosquito species that are potential vectors.
- EEE and WNV infection rates in mosquitoes.
Mosquito traps are set and attended by CAES staff every 10 days on a regular rotation. Two trap types are used at all trapping stations : 1) a CO2-baited CDC Light Trap, designed to trap host-seeking adult female mosquitoes (all species); and 2) a Gravid Mosquito Trap, designed to trap previously blood-fed adult female mosquitoes (principally Culex species). A third trap, the BG Sentinel Trap, is used at select locations to monitor populations of the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus). In the event that EEE or WNV-infected mosquitoes are detected at a trapping station, the frequency of trapping is increased, to a minimum of once per week, in order to assess potential public health risks
All of the virus isolation work is conducted in certified Bio-safety level 3 laboratories at the CAES. Viruses are isolated in Vero cells and identified using RT-PCR based assays. These include: West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Jamestown Canyon, Cache Valley, Highlands J, LaCrosse, Potosi and St. Louis encephalitis viruses. Weekly test results are reported to the DPH, DEEP, and DAG and published on the CAES and CT Mosquito Management website. Complete processing of mosquitoes (from collection to virus isolation and identification) usually requires 6-10 days.