FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Connecticut Department of Public Health

August 30, 2012                                                         Contact: William Gerrish

                                                                                   (860) 509-7270

                                                                                  Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

                                                                                  Contact: Dr. Theodore Andreadis

                                                                                  (203) 974-8510

Hartford – The State Mosquito Management Program reminds residents that the threat of West Nile virus is still high in Connecticut and to take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Currently, towns with the highest activity are located in Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties.

So far this season, seven Connecticut residents, with an average age of 60 years, have been reported with WNV associated illnesses. The seven cases are residents of Bridgeport (1), Greenwich (2), New Haven (1), Stamford (2) and West Haven. Six of the residents were hospitalized; no one has died.

“Even though to many people Labor Day marks the end of the summer season, it does not mean the end of the mosquito season. Mosquitoes remain active well into September and people should stay vigilant and protect themselves from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Jewel Mullen, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health. “This holiday weekend, I ask everyone to take steps to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk when mosquitoes are most active.”

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has trapped WNV-positive mosquitoes in 43 towns since June 27 including: Bethel, Bridgeport, Cheshire, Chester, Danbury, Darien, East Haven, Fairfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Groton, Hamden, Hartford, Killingworth, Meriden, Milford, Monroe, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, Newington, Newtown, North Branford, North Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, Old Lyme, Shelton, South Windsor, Southington, Stamford, Stratford, Voluntown, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Hartford, West Haven, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Wethersfield, and Wilton. In addition, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) infected mosquitoes have been identified in Chester.

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

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