Mosquitos Reveal Another Virus

HARTFORD (AP) –– The heavy rains of last month have provided a boost in the human-biting mosquito population and with that, mark the reappearance in the state of another virus.

The Jamestown Canyon virus, unlike West Nile virus, appears to be relatively common in Connecticut.

The Jamestown Canyon virus, which usually causes only mild fever and headache, has been discovered in trapped mosquitoes in Cromwell and Danbury, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

June’s rain spurred a population explosion among human-biting mosquitoes that thrive in swampy areas and tend to carry Jamestown Canyon, but not West Nile, Theodore Andreadis, chief medical entomologist at the agricultural station, told The Hartford Courant.

Jamestown Canyon has been detected in mosquitoes every year for the past six years that tests have been conducted, Mr Andreadis said.

Two studies suggest that many Connecticut residents already may have been infected but experienced few or no symptoms.