FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Connecticut Department of Public Health

September 30, 2009                              Contact: William Gerrish

                                                             (860) 509-7270

                                                             Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

                                                             Contact: Theodore Andreadis, Ph.D.

                                                             (203) 974-8510

Hartford – The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that mosquitoes trapped in Monroe, Newtown, Plainfield, and Stonington between September 17 and 21 tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE).  These are the first EEE-positive mosquitoes identified in these four towns by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year.

The state also announced that mosquitoes trapped in Madison on September15 tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). These are the first WNV-positive mosquitoes identified in Madison by the CAES this year.

“The state mosquito monitoring program continues to identify mosquitoes carrying viruses that can cause illness in people,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.  “It is essential that residents take precautions to avoid mosquito bites while outdoors over the next few weeks.” 

“We are finding increased EEE activity throughout eastern and central Connecticut and expect to continue to identify infected mosquitoes through September and October depending on the weather,” said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, CAES.

In 2009, EEE in mosquitoes has been confirmed in 20 Connecticut towns: Chester, Darien, Guilford, Hampton, Hebron, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Monroe, Newtown, North Branford, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Shelton, South Windsor, Stonington, Tolland, Voluntown and Willington.  West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes have been trapped in 12 towns including: Cheshire, Darien, Cromwell, East Haven, Farmington, Greenwich, Milford, Madison, Monroe, Old Lyme, Stratford and West Haven.  To date, no Connecticut residents have been identified with WNV or EEE infections.

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

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