EEE-Infected Mosquitoes Found In South Windsor: Officials

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — The State Mosquito Management Program today urged South Windsor residents to "protect" themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases after the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station identified Eastern Equine Encephalitis-infected mosquitos in town.

Eastern Equine encephalitis virus is spread to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes. EEEV is rare in the United States with an average of seven cases reported each year. The virus is found in mosquitoes in Connecticut.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat EEEV infection. Approximately one third of people who become sick from EEEV will die from the illness.

Officials said early recognition and prompt supportive treatment can lower the risk of complications and death. The best way to prevent getting sick from EEEV is to prevent mosquito bites. Systemic infection has an abrupt onset and is characterized by chills, fever, malaise, arthralgia, and myalgia, officials said.

The illness lasts 1 to 2 weeks, and recovery is complete when there is no central nervous

system involvement. In infants, the encephalitic form is characterized by abrupt onset; in older children and adults, encephalitis is manifested after a few days of systemic illness. Signs and symptoms in encephalitic patients are fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis, convulsions, and coma, officials said.

The mosquitoes were collected September 17, 2019, by CAES at the Burgess Road collection station.

Officicials said to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes 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, or when
mosquitoes are most 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.

The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday through Thursday nights at each site every ten days on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.

Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the CAES website at
http://www.ct.gov/caes/mosquitotesting.