West Nile Virus Detected In Danbury: CT Scientists

DANBURY, CT— The Connecticut Mosquito Management Program has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected from a testing site in Danbury.

This marks the first positive identification of the virus in Danbury this season. No human cases have been reported with WNV-associated illnesses acquired in the city, and the risk level remains low at this time.

According to the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program, 180 human cases of West Nile virus, including 4 fatalities, have been reported in Connecticut residents since 2000.

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

While many who contract the virus do not exhibit symptoms, some of the bitten may experience severe illness. WNV can cause an acute febrile illness or neurologic disease, including meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid myelitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incubation period ranges from 2–14 days (perhaps longer in immunocompromised persons) and the overall fatality is approximately 10 percent.

Common symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.

"We urge all residents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites," said Fernanda Carvalho, City of Danbury Director of Health and Human Services. "To prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in our community, the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services contracts with a mosquito management company to treat over 5,500 catch basins throughout the City annually. Simple measures like using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water can significantly reduce the risk of infection."

To reduce the risk of WNV infection, city health officials urge residents to take the following precautions:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Consider the use of mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-methane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone when it is necessary to be outdoors.
• 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.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect infants when outdoors.