Newtown Health District Warns About West Nile

The Newtown Health District is joining with the State of Connecticut in warning residents about the possible risk of contracting West Nile Virus now that the first infected mosquito has been identified in Connecticut.

Health District Director Donna Culbert said this week that with the recent heavy and frequent rains, property owners need to remain more vigilant than ever about even the smallest patches of standing water.

“If you left a paper cup outside last night on the picnic table and it rained, you could have mosquitoes laying eggs in that cup this morning,” Ms Culbert said. “You need to dump all standing water, and there’s probably plenty of it.”

The State Mosquito Management Program announced Tuesday that mosquitoes trapped in West Haven on June 29 tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). These are the first positive mosquitoes identified by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station this year.

“The isolation of WNV from Culex pipiens is expected based on results of mosquito testing over the past seven 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,” said Theodore G. Andreadis, PhD, chief medical entomologist at the experiment station. “Due to wet spring conditions current mosquito populations are very high.”

Culex pipiens is a common mosquito species and one of the species that is responsible for spreading WNV in this area. In 2005, mosquitoes trapped in Stamford on July 11 were the first in Connecticut to test positive for WNV.

Overall, WNV in mosquitoes, wild birds, or humans was identified in 23 towns.

“The announcement of WNV-positive mosquitoes in West Haven should be taken seriously,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD, MPH. “Residents, particularly the elderly, should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites during the mosquito season, especially in areas where West Nile virus is identified.”

During 2005, five Connecticut residents were diagnosed with WNV infections acquired in the state and one person was infected while traveling out of the state. From 2000 to 2005, 48 persons were confirmed with WNV infection, including 44 who acquired the infection in Connecticut.

Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer severe health consequences if they become infected with WNV. Two persons have died.

Based on experiences since 1999, the state WNV monitoring system will emphasize evaluating mosquito populations during the 2006 season. The agricultural experiment station has established a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state from June through October.

Mosquito traps are set by the station every ten days at each site on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.

The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program is an interagency program consisting of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science.

According to Ms Culbert, precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

éMinimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn.

éBe sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.

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

éUse mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.

éConsider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use it according to label instructions. The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin.

éWhen using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, six percent lasts approximately two hours and 20 percent 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 2 months old.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

éDispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings

éDrill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling

éClean clogged roof gutters

éTurn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and wheelbarrows

éChange water in bird baths on a weekly basis

éClean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when not in use, cover or drain pools

éUse landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on a property

Furthermore, Ms Culbert advises that any bodies of standing water such as decorative ponds or larger stagnant ponds be treated with commercial larvicide, which is available at most hardware stores.

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

The Department of Public Health website, www.dph.state.ct.us

The Department of Environmental Protection website, www.dep.state.ct.us or 24-hour (toll-free in Connecticut) recorded mosquito information line, 866-WNV-LINE (866-968-5463) or 860-424-4184.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station website, www.caes.state.ct.us

The Department of Agriculture website, www.state.ct.us/doag

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov