West Nile Virus Detected In Stamford: State

STAMFORD, CT — Several mosquitoes in Stamford have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), according to the state.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), which is responsible for trapping, identifying, and testing mosquitoes for encephalitis viruses statewide, noted in their latest results posted this week that three mosquitoes out of the 686 tested in Sleepy Hollow Park in Springdale were positive for WNV.

The mosquitoes were collected on July 31.

Additionally, a single mosquito out of the 405 tested at Cove Island Park on July 26 tested positive. All 640 of the blood-sucking flies tested on Intervale Road were negative.

So far in 2023, 169,622 mosquitoes have been tested across the state, CAES noted, with 15 testing positive for WNV, and three coming back as having Jamestown Canyon Virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website that WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people, but most people infected with the disease do not feel sick, the CDC says.

About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, and about one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal illness, according to the CDC.

Stamford Director of Health Jody Bishop-Pullan told Patch that even though the state of Connecticut has a robust larvicide program that kills mosquito larvae before they become adults, Stamford usually experiences a few WNV-positive mosquitoes during this time of year.

To protect from exposure to WNV, Bishop-Pullan advised residents to use an EPA-registered insect repellant, wear long sleeve shirts and pants, use screens in windows and doors, use air conditioning, and avoid going out at dawn and dusk.

Residents should also remove standing water from their properties, as even small amounts of water can become a breeding area for mosquitoes.

"As with any illness, should you feel sick and think you may have been exposed to West Nile Virus, contact your health care provider for guidance," Bishop-Pullan added.

Read more about mosquitoes in Connecticut and the WNV test results