West Nile Virus Reported In 25 Connecticut Towns: DEEP

CONNECTICUT — State scientists have determined that West Nile Virus has found its way into 25 Connecticut towns.

Officials with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have tapped Branford, Bridgeport, Colchester, Danbury, Darien, East Haddam, East Haven, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Hebron, Killingworth, Manchester, Mansfield, Milford, New Canaan, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Wallingford, Waterbury, Waterford, Wethersfield, Willington, and Wilton all with virus-bearing mosquito populations. One human case of WNV infection has also been reported in Connecticut so far this year.

"We continue to detect West Nile virus in mosquitoes throughout Connecticut, with the highest levels of activity in Fairfield and New Haven counties and in the metropolitan Hartford area," said 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 it was introduced into North America in 1999.

Only about 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, which can include headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious or possibly fatal illness.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, CAES officials recommend that residents:

• 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.