Stamford Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus

The State Mosquito Management Program has announced that mosquitoes trapped last week in Stamford’s Cove Island Park have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) and there are plans to apply larvicide to all catch basins throughout the city, officials said.

The mosquitoes were trapped on July 28 and the positive test results were announced by the city on Wednesday.

These are the third positive mosquitoes identified in the State of Connecticut by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year along with Guilford and New Haven which was identified the same day as Stamford.

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According to Stamford Director of Health and Social Services Anne Fountain, “It is important that residents take precautions to avoid contact with mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Simple measures including wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, head coverings and socks will minimize exposure to mosquitoes, which may carry the virus.”

Fountain added, “The use of insect repellant is also helpful. In addition, we urge people to seek out and empty standing water in and around their homes. We will begin to larvicide all catch basins throughout the city next week with an additional treatment in September.”

To monitor WNV, the CAES maintains a network of trapping stations in municipalities throughout the state of Connecticut from June through October. Mosquito traps are set by the CAES every 10 days at each site on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date. Mosquitoes were identified in one pool of mosquitoes in Stamford.

Most people who are infected with WNV and become ill, will have a mild illness that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or a skin rash. Less frequently, people develop severe illness of the nervous system that can also include neck stiffness, disorientation, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer the more severe health consequences if they become infected with WNV.

Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

• Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.

• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.

• Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors. Always use according to label instructions. The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin.

• When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6% lasts approximately two hours and 20% for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than two months old.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

• Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings.
• Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
• Clean clogged roof gutters.
• Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and
wheelbarrows.
• Change water in birdbaths on a weekly basis.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when not in use, use pool covers and drain
when necessary.
• Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property.

Additional resources for information on West Nile virus and mosquito management:

• The Department of Public Health website at www.ct.gov/dph
• The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Web site at www.ct.gov/caes
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/westnile

For more information, call Director of Environmental Inspections Ronald Miller at 203-977-4363.