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Ever since 1999 when West Nile Virus (WNV) first showed
up in Connecticut, the state has been paying close attention to mosquitoes.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, based in New Haven,
maintains a network of 91 mosquito trapping stations across the state from
June through October. Insects snared are tested to see if they are carrying
West Nile Virus or other diseases harmful to people or animals.
State scientists say the development of WNV in Connecticut each year follows
a complex cycle that tends to reach its peak in September increasing the
threat to humans.
When this edition of the Connecticut Report was written, four persons had
been diagnosed with West Nile Virus this season in our state. They live in
Danbury, Hartford, New London, and Woodbridge. All four have recovered.
The virus itself has been identified in mosquitoes trapped in 11 towns --
Danbury, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, Manchester, New Haven, Newington,
Stamford, Stratford, West Haven, and Westport. Officials say it's likely WNV
will turn up in additional locations in the coming weeks.
While some may roll their eyes over the threat of WNV, state officials say
complacency is misguided because the virus can be fatal or cause serious
illness, especially among the elderly or persons with weak immune systems.
Also, mosquitoes carrying an even more dangerous virus, eastern equine
encephalitis (EEE) have been found in Plainfield this season. The EEE virus
has a higher fatality rate than WNV and those who do survive often come away
with serious lingering effects.
All this leads to an important message from state health and environmental
protection officials: take personal precautions against mosquito bites this
month. That means limiting your time outdoors at dusk and dawn when
mosquitoes are most active. Use mosquito repellent when you are outdoors.
Officials say the most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin. They
note that advertised alternatives to these ingredients often are poor
substitutes or do not work at all.
August was a very dry month and while turned lawns brown, it did cut down on
the mosquito population—and that's a good thing! However, officials say
mosquitoes can breed in all sorts of containers that hold stagnant water
including untended bird baths, old tires, clogged roof gutters, and empty
flower pots. Check your property and empty out standing water in these
containers to reduce the mosquito threat.
West Nile Virus can be a mild illness or something more serious. WNV and EEE
have similar symptoms: fever, headache, body aches, nausea, neck stiffness,
vomiting and related flu-like problems. Since it is unlikely that you would
develop traditional flu at this time of year, health officials advise you to
contact your doctor if you develop these symptoms this month—especially
sudden fever. It could be a mosquito-borne disease.
Mosquitoes will be active well into the fall until cold temperatures and
killing frosts signal the end of this biting concern for another year. If
you want to learn more about West Nile Virus and mosquito issues in
Connecticut, go to the state government website
www.ct.gov and on the front page click on
"executive" for a list of state agencies. You can find information at the
Departments of Public Health and Environmental Protection, and the
Agricultural Experiment Station.
Posted 9/10/07
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