Southington Resident Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Connecticut Department of Public Health on Friday said a resident of Southington has tested positive for the West Nile virus infection.

Health department officials said it is the third human case of a West Nile-associated illness identified in Connecticut this season. The first two cases were in residents of Fairfield and Newington.

The patient, who is between 70 and 79 years old, became ill during the first week of August with encephalitis, was hospitalized, and is now recovering, officials said.

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies to the West Nile virus. The patient did not travel out of the area before becoming ill, health department official said.

West Nile virus has been detected in the state every year since 1999. Before 2018, 134 human cases of
WNV were diagnosed in Connecticut residents including three fatalities.

Last year, three Connecticut residents were diagnosed with WNV infection. For more information on WNV human cases in CT, click here.

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