In Fairfield County—

State Health Department Issues Warning On West Nile Virus

HARTFORD — The State Department of Public Health is commending that Fairfield County residents take precautions to avoid mosquito bites as a result of the findings of mosquitoes with West Nile virus (WNV) in Stratford and a WNV-positive bird in Newtown.

The state’s Mosquito Management Program Wednesday announced that mosquitoes trapped in Stratford on June 28 tested positive for West Nile virus. These are the first positive mosquitoes identified by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year.

On June 17, a dead crow was found in Newtown that later tested positive for the West Nile virus.

“The recent announcement of a WNV-positive bird in Newtown and the finding of positive mosquitoes in Stratford should be taken seriously,” said Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD.

“Residents, particularly the elderly, should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites during the mosquito season, especially in areas where WNV is identified,” he said.

Dr Theodore G. Andreadis, CAES chief medical entomologist, said more findings are expected.

“The isolation of WNV from Culex pipiens is expected based on results of mosquito testing over the past four years. This is an early indication that we should expect that WNV may continue to build up in Connecticut through the summer and early fall,” Dr Andreadis said.

Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer severe health consequences if they become infected with WNV. In 2003, 17 Connecticut residents were confirmed with WNV infection including residents of 16 towns in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Tolland counties. Thirteen persons were hospitalized. Onset of the illness occurred from the last week of July to the second week of November. All of the patients survived. Overall, the age of the patients ranged from 6 to 85 years.

The CAES has established a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. The traps are set by the CAES every ten days at each site on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped for testing according to species, collection site, and date.

The Mosquito Control Program is an interagency program consisting of the Department of Environmental Protection, The CAES, the DPH, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science.

Precautions To Take

The DPH recommends that residents minimize time outdoors at dawn and dusk. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.

Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair. Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.

Consider using mosquito repellents when it is necessary to be outdoors; always use them according to label instructions.

When using DEET, the most widely used insect repellent, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors 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 2 months old.

Dispose of water-holding containers outside such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings.

Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling so that water does not collect in them.

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, pool covers.

Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect.

Additional resources for information on West Nile virus and mosquito management can be found at the DPH website at www.dph.state.ct.us; at the agricultural experiment station’s website, www.caes.state.ct.us; at the agriculture department’s website, www.state.ct.usdoag; at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov, and by calling the 24-hour toll-free mosquito information line, 866-968-5463.