Mosquitoes In East Haven, Branford, Test Positive For West Nile Virus

EAST HAVEN, CT —Mosquitoes recently sampled in East Haven and Branford have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, health officials reported Monday.

Officials from East Shore District Health Department said the mosquitoes were collected on July 27 at a Hosley Avenue site in Branford and the Kenneth Street area of East Haven.

The species of mosquito carrying West Nile Virus can be found in a wide variety of places, such as old tires, stagnant pools of groundwater, artificial containers, or catch basins, according to health educator Barbara Naclerio.

"The warm weather, high humidity, and frequent rainfall that have created ideal conditions that are conducive to the spreading of West Nile Virus infected mosquitos," a news release from the health department reads. It was noted that, to date, there have not been any human cases in Connecticut this summer. In 2014, there were six human cases in the state, one of those was a resident of East Haven.

"People are most vulnerable to the West Nile Virus in August and September," health officials wrote. "There’s a good deal of summer remaining, and that means that mosquitoes will be with us for several more months, and we need to take the proper precautions to avoid mosquito bites."

Personal protection measures include:

• Minimize time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long sleeved shirt when and where mosquitoes are most active.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping and to protect small babies when outdoors.
• Consider the use of mosquito repellent containing DEE when it is necessary to be outdoors.

The Health District is also advising that people continue eliminating stagnant water in and around their properties.

• Dispose of water holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings.
• Drill holes in bottoms of recycling containers.
• Clean clogged roof gutters
• Turn over plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows, etc.
• Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used, including pool covers.
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water on your property.

Mosquitoes are collected approximately every 10 days. The towns of Branford and East Haven have funded a mosquito larvicide program that includes application of larvicide to mosquito breeding areas, as well as storm water catch basin larvicide treatments.

The East Shore District Health Department locally administers the program that includes mosquito and human surveillance and aggressive elimination of mosquito breeding conditions. For more information, you may call the Health District at (203) 481-4233 or visit its website at www.esdhd.org.