FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      Connecticut Department of Public Health

August 24, 2010                                 Contact: William Gerrish

                                                           (860) 509-7270

                                                           Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

                                                           Contact: Dr. Theodore Andreadis

                                                           (203) 974-8510

Hartford – The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that mosquitoes trapped in Darien, Greenwich, New Britain, Newtown, Stratford and Trumbull from August 12-18, 2010 have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  These are the first positive mosquitoes identified in these five towns by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year. 

“West Nile virus in mosquitoes is spreading to additional areas of the state,” said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, CAES.  “Positive mosquitoes also continue to be identified in previously identified areas indicating increasing proportion of mosquitoes infected.”

“I am reminding Connecticut residents of the importance to take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites at this time of the year,” said Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin.

So far this season, positive mosquitoes have been identified in 18 towns – Bethel, Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Manchester, Meriden, Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, New Britain, Orange, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, West Haven, Westport and Wethersfield. Two people, living in New Haven and Trumbull, have been reported with WNV infections this year.

Monitoring and risk assessment for WNV emphasizes mosquito trapping and testing results.  The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state.  Mosquito traps are set Monday – Thursday nights and conducted at each site every ten days on a rotating basis.  Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.  Each pool is tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance.  Positive findings are reported to local health departments, in press releases and on the CAES web site.

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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