West Nile Virus Found In Mosquitoes In Bridgeport: CT Health Officials

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have recently been found in Bridgeport, according to state health officials.

No human cases of the virus have been uncovered, but authorities have found that 20 other Connecticut communities also had mosquitoes carrying the virus.

"We are seeing a geographic expansion of West Nile virus activity to new towns in Connecticut," said John Shepard, Medical Entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, in a statement. "We anticipate further build-up of West Nile virus in mosquitoes with increased risk of human infection from now through September."

Added Dr. Philip Armstrong, Chief Scientist at CAES, "Now is the time to take precautions against mosquito bites. We encourage everyone to take protective measures, such as using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active."

CAES offers the following tips to avoid West Nile virus:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• When it is necessary to be outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light-colored and loose-fitting and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
  
• Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and ticks.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
• When sleeping outdoors, use tents or mosquito netting in an unscreened structure. Treat camping gear with permethrin when possible.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito nets when outside.

For more information on CAES and the mosquito tracking program, click here.