Connecticut State Department of Public Health

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Eastern equine encephalitis virus found in Hebron, North Branford, North Stonington and Tolland

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             Connecticut Department of Public Health

September 11, 2009                                  Contact: William Gerrish

                                                                  (860) 509-7270

 

                                                                   Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

                                                                   Contact: Theodore Andreadis, Ph.D.

                                                                   (203) 974-8510

 

Hartford – The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that mosquitoes trapped in East Haven on August 31 tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  These are the first identified in East Haven by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year.

 

The State also announced that mosquitoes trapped in Hebron on August 27, North Branford on August 31, and North Stonington and Tolland on September 1 tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE).

 

“We are finding increased EEE activity throughout eastern Connecticut and expect to continue to identify infected mosquitoes through September and October depending on the weather,” said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, CAES.

 

In 2009, WNV-positive mosquitoes have been trapped in 11 towns including: Cheshire, Darien, Cromwell, East Haven, Farmington, Greenwich, Milford, Monroe, Old Lyme, Stratford and West Haven. In addition, EEE-positive mosquitoes have been trapped in nine towns including: Hampton, Hebron, Killingworth, Madison, North Branford, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Tolland and Willington.  To date, no Connecticut residents have been identified with WNV or EEE infections.

 

“The risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases is greatest during late summer and early fall,” said Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner, J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.  “I urge Connecticut residents to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”

 

The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state to monitor and assess the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases.  Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.  Each pool is tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance. 

 

For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.