Press Releases
07/28/2021
State Reports Positive Mosquitoes for West Nile Virus in Five More Connecticut Towns
New Haven, CT - The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has identified West Nile virus (WNV) infected mosquitoes in five new towns: Darien, Greenwich, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterford. The mosquitoes were trapped from July 15 to July 20, 2021. WNV positive mosquitoes were also identified in Milford and South Windsor earlier this year.
“We are beginning to see an expansion of West Nile virus activity in Connecticut” said Dr. Philip Armstrong, Medical Entomologist at the CAES. “We anticipate further build-up of West Nile virus in mosquitoes with increased risk of human infection from now through September.”
"The current warm weather and high humidity provide favorable conditions for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus," said Dr. Jason White, Director of CAES. "We urge everyone to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.”
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, residents should:
- Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Consider the use of mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-methane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone when it is necessary to be outdoors.
- 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 loose-fitting and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
- Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect infants when outdoors.
No human or horse cases have been reported with WNV-associated illnesses acquired in Connecticut this season. One hundred sixty-six human cases of West Nile virus, including four fatalities, have been reported in Connecticut residents since 2000.
The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science. These agencies are responsible for monitoring the potential public health threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
The CAES maintains a network of 108 mosquito-trapping stations in 88 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday – Thursday nights at each site every ten days on a rotating basis and then twice a week after detection of virus. 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 https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Mosquito-Testing/Introductory/State-of-ConnecticutMosquito-Trapping-and-Arbovirus-Testing-Program.
For information on WNV and EEE, what can be done to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, the latest mosquito test results and human infections, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website.