3rd Human Case Of West Nile Virus Identified In CT This Year

CONNECTICUT — A third Connecticut resident has tested positive for West Nile virus infection, the Connecticut Department of Public Health announced Friday.

The patient is a Hartford resident between the ages of 50-59 and became ill during the fourth week of August with encephalitis, according to officials. The patient is recovering, officials said.

The previous two patients diagnosed with West Nile-associated illness are residents of Bridgeport and West Haven and became ill during the third week of August. Both patients are recovering, according to officials.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station also announced Friday that West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes from 34 towns in Connecticut this season. Since June 21, CAES has identified WNV-positive mosquitoes at trap sites in: Branford, Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hamden, Litchfield, Manchester, Middlefield, Milford, Meriden, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, Newington, Newtown, North Branford, North Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Ridgefield, Somers, South Windsor, Southington, Sprague, Stamford, Stratford, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wethersfield, and Wilton.

“We are seeing a late season surge in the numbers of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus, especially in coastal Fairfield and New Haven counties and in the greater Hartford area,” said Dr. Philip Armstrong, medical entomologist at the CAES. “The risk of West Nile virus is expected to continue until mosquito activity ceases in October."

West Nile virus has been detected in Connecticut every year since 1999 and is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. Last year, CAES detected WNV in 143 mosquito samples from 23 towns and eight human cases were reported. Before 2021, 166 cases of West Nile virus were reported in Connecticut, of which four were fatal.

Eight out of 10 people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. About one in five people who are infected develop West Nile fever, an illness which includes a fever and other symptoms such as body aches, joint pain, headache, or a rash. About one out of 150 infected people develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system. About one out of 10 cases of severe illness are fatal. People over the age of 60 are at highest risk of serious illness.

“Historically, August and September are the months of greatest risk for acquiring West Nile virus infection," said Dr. Deidre Gifford, senior advisor to the governor for Health and Human Services, and acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health. “Now is the time to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, officials said 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.

For more information on West Nile virus and how to prevent mosquito bites, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website here.