State Issues Health Warning On West Nile Virus

Donna McCarthy, director of the Newtown Health District, has received a health warning on the West Nile Virus (WNV) from the State Department of Public Health’s Infectious Diseases Division.

Dr James L. Hadler, state epidemiologist, said that Connecticut is reaching a level of WNV activity that is likely to result in human cases of severe illness and that residents, especially those ages 50 and older, should take personal precautions to avoid unnecessary mosquito exposure.

“I am concerned that there could be a public perception that there may be diminished WNV risk this year,” Dr Hadler said. “The most intense activity has been in the mid-Western part of the country and we have ‘only’ had three positive mosquito pools thus far, only one of which is a human-feeding mosquito species.”

Despite this situation, there are some disturbing findings to consider, he said.

“WNV activity as gauged from testing of dead birds shows that we have more widespread activity this year than we did as of August 20 last year [29 towns this year versus 19 a year ago]. Last year was a record year for number of persons in Connecticut getting illness due to WNV,” he explained.

Two of the three positive mosquito pools have come in during the past week.

“In the past week, New Jersey, New York City, and Massachusetts each reported their first documented human infections with WNV this year,” Dr Hadler said. “Thus, neighboring states have now reached levels of activity that are resulting in human infection.“

The epidemiologist said that Connecticut is in a hot and fair spell of weather, ideal for the rapid further amplification of WNV and for people to spend more time outdoors. The state is in the last days of summer vacation season before Labor Day, the peak time historically for people to become infected with WNV.

“Taking all of these factors together, we feel that now is the time to strongly reinforce earlier messages to use personal protective measures when outdoors and to reduce mosquito breeding areas around homes,” Dr Hadler said.