West Nile Virus—

Infected Mosquitoes

Found In Newtown

By John Voket

Newtown was the latest among unlucky 13 Connecticut communities to log its first capture of a West Nile virus-infected mosquito this week. But the regional Health District director says the finding is not unique or unexpected, and should serve as a reminder for local residents to take steps to protect themselves from bites as well as to rid their properties of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

On July 24, the State Mosquito Management Program announced mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in 13 towns so far this season. Besides the Newtown insects, infected mosquitoes were trapped by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) from June 27 to July 18 in Bethel, Danbury, Greenwich, East Haven, New Haven, Newington, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, West Haven, Wallingford, and Wilton.

 “As expected, we continue to find mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in more locations in lower Fairfield County and in an expanding number of other areas of Connecticut,” said Dr Theodore G. Andreadis, chief medical entomologist, CAES. “Over the rest of the summer and into early fall, we expect to see further build-up of West Nile virus with increased risk for human infection throughout the state, especially in densely populated communities where the virus is found.”

“The identification of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in a growing number of communities serves as an important reminder that people should protect themselves from mosquito bites,” said Dr Randall Nelson, state public health veterinarian with the Department of Public Health. “Everyone should take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites, like using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.”

 Echoing Dr Nelson’s input about protecting one’s self and family members, Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert also reminds residents to scour their properties for any areas of standing water as soon as possible after rainfall.

“Even a small container of standing water like a discarded drink cup, or any stagnant water in a gutter or puddle can quickly become a place where mosquitoes will lay eggs and breed,” she said.

Monitoring and risk assessment for WNV emphasizes mosquito trapping and testing results. The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state.

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

Each pool is tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance. Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the CAES website at www.ct.gov/caes.

 For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website at www.ct.gov/mosquito.