Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In Shelton: NVHD

SHELTON, CT — The Naugatuck Valley Health District announced Tuesday night it received confirmation mosquitoes recently sampled in Shelton carried the West Nile virus.

According to a news release provided by NVHD, the mosquitoes were collected Aug. 25 in the Shelton Avenue area of the city at a trapping station monitored by The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station as part of the state's mosquito management program.

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NVHD emphasized the detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes "does not mean that all mosquitoes are infected or that a human case has occurred locally. However, it confirms local virus activity and reinforces the importance of preventing mosquito bites."

According to NVHD, state officials have reported increasing West Nile virus activity, particularly in Fairfield and New Haven counties, with risk expected to continue through September.

"Residents throughout the Naugatuck Valley should take simple precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites," NVHD Director of Health Jessica Kristy said in a news release. "This finding is an important reminder that West Nile virus is circulating in our area, even as summer comes to an end."

NVHD noted warm weather, high humidity and frequent rainfall have created ideal conditions that are conducive to the spread of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes.

The species of mosquito that tested positive for WNV, Culex pipiens, can be found in a wide variety of places, such as old tires, stagnant pools of ground water, artificial containers or catch basins, according to NVHD.

NVHD also shared the following recommendations for residents:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• When it is necessary to be outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label.
• 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, loose-fitting, and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
• Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and ticks.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
• When sleeping outdoors, use tents or mosquito netting in an unscreened structure. Treat camping gear with permethrin when possible.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito nets when outside.
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights, which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes than ordinary lights. The yellow lights are NOT repellents, however.

NVHD also recommends the following steps to remove mosquito habitats:

• Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, tires, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
• Turn over plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows, etc.
• Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.
• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water on your property.

More information is available here.