Mosquitoes Infected With West Nile Virus Found In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus were discovered in Greenwich this month, according to the town Department of Health.

The mosquitoes were trapped near the Eastern Civic Center in Old Greenwich on July 19, and the discovery marks the first positive tests for virus-carrying mosquitoes in Greenwich this year, as identified by the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES).

Last year, one resident contracted West Nile Virus in Greenwich, but the illness was not fatal, according to health officials.

Greenwich takes a preemptive approach to dealing with West Nile Virus through its larviciding program, "which includes the treatment of public and private roadway catch basins, public school ground catch basins and other property owned and operated by the Town as needed."

The program was launched in June, and larvicide is reapplied every four to six weeks.

"Controlling the mosquito population in the larval stage through the application of larvicide has been found to be a prudent action; however, this measure only helps to reduce the mosquito population, not eliminate it," said Greenwich Health Director Caroline Calderone Baisley in a statement. "The recent warm weather and periodic rain events have increased the ability for mosquitoes to breed. Residents are encouraged to protect themselves whenever they are outdoors."

Added Director of Environmental Services, Michael Long, "Although the town’s larvicide program treats catch basins, the general public must be vigilant in eliminating standing water on their own properties and protecting themselves from biting mosquitoes at all times. It is important to recognize that the highest risk of exposure to West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes is during the months of August and September."

From the health department's release:

The virus (WNV) is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, which becomes infected when it bites a bird carrying the virus. WNV is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds to people. General symptoms occur suddenly between 5 – 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito and range from slight fever, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, malaise and eye pain, to the rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, severe muscle weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms, coma or death.

Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito are able to fight off infection and experience mild or no symptoms at all. Some individuals, including the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems, WNV can cause serious illness that affects the central nervous system. In a minority of infected persons, especially those over 50 years old, WNV can cause serious illness, including encephalitis and meningitis. Infection can lead to death in 3 - 15% of persons with severe forms of the illness.

"The finding of WNV positive mosquitoes in Greenwich marks the time to emphasize that personal protection measures are extremely important against biting mosquitoes during the day and at night,” says Caroline Calderone Baisley, Director of Health.

The following precautions should be taken when outdoors:

• Avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
  
• Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants.
  
• Use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s directions on the label (10% or less DEET for children and no more than 30% DEET for adults). Always wash treated skin when returning indoors.
  
• Avoid application of repellents with DEET on infants and small children.
  
• Cover arms and legs of children playing outdoors.
  
• Cover playpens or carriages with mosquito netting.
  
• Don’t camp overnight near stagnant or standing water.

For more information on West Nile Virus and how to deal with it, click here.

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