Press Releases

State Reports Human West Nile Virus Infections in Danbury and New London

Governor Rell Urges Precautions

Hartford (8.3.07) - The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that a resident of Danbury and a resident of New London tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) infection.

"These are the first Connecticut residents to be diagnosed with West Nile virus infections this year," said Governor M. Jodi Rell. "Now through September marks the peak time for transmission of this virus from mosquitoes to people, so we are urging residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites."

The Danbury resident is between 20 and 29 years of age, and became ill during the third week of July. This person was hospitalized for encephalitis characterized by fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, weakness, and memory loss. The New London resident is between 30 and 39 years of age, and also became ill during the third week of July. This person was hospitalized for meningitis characterized by headache, stiff neck, joint and muscle pain, and weakness. Both patients are recovering at home. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid from both patients proved positive for WNV in tests performed by the Department of Public Health (DPH) Laboratory.

"The identification of two Connecticut residents with West Nile virus and the recently announced positive mosquito pools are causes for concern. I am strongly suggesting that everyone follow all recommendations to avoid mosquito bites," said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. "The State Mosquito Management program will continue to monitor the situation across the state and keep residents informed."

To date, positive mosquitoes have been identified in two towns, Manchester and West Haven. The positive mosquito pools were trapped on June 27 and July 24 respectively. These mosquito pools were both Culex pipiens, a species known to be important in WNV transmission in our region.

"We are collecting mosquitoes at trap sites located in communities statewide and will continue collections through October," said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). "Our network of mosquito trap sites provides information that is critical for assessing the risk of West Nile virus transmission to people."

Most people who are infected and become ill with WNV will have a mild illness that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or a skin rash. Less frequently, people develop severe illness of the nervous system that can also include neck stiffness, disorientation, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer the more severe health consequences if they become infected with WNV.

During 2006, eight Connecticut residents were diagnosed with WNV infection acquired in the state and one person was infected while traveling out of the state. One person, a resident of New Haven over 80 years of age, died.

Additional WNV information can be found at http://www.dph.state.ct.us/BCH/infectiousdise/pdf/Vol27No4_FNLCLR.pdf
To monitor WNV, the CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state from June through October. Mosquito traps are set by the CAES 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.

Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn.
Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.
Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors. Always use according to label instructions. The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin.
When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6% lasts approximately two hours and 20% 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 two months old.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings.
Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
Clean clogged roof gutters.
Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use, such as wading pools and wheelbarrows.
Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools. When pools are not in use, use pool covers and drain when necessary.
Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property.

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

The Department of Public Health website at www.dph.state.ct.us
The Department of Environmental Protection website at www.ct.gov/dep
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Web site at www.ct.gov/caes
The Department of Agriculture Web site at www.ct.gov/doag
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov