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Waterford Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Waterford is the only municipality in CT where infected mosquitoes were found by the state Dept. of Agriculture.

Mosquitoes caught in Waterford by the Connecticut Agriculture Department have tested positive for the West Nile virus, the department announced Friday.

A total of 31 mosquitoes were trapped by the department on July 20 and then tested at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. Of the 17,749 mosquitoes tested this week by the station, only those caught in Waterford tested positive for the virus, the department said.

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According to the Center for Disease Control, you can reduce your risk of being infected with WNV by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites. There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent WNV infection.

Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness.

Find out what's happening in Waterfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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