Mosquitoes Trapped In Greenwich Test Positive For West Nile Virus

GREENWICH, CT — Pools of mosquitoes trapped in Greenwich in the beginning of August have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to an announcement from the Greenwich Department of Health.

The positive mosquito pools came from trapping locations located in Mianus River Park on the Stamford line, the Old Greenwich/Riverside area and in the Backcountry off Lake Avenue north of the Merritt Parkway, the department of health said.

"The collection of infected mosquitoes from multiple trapping sites in Greenwich is very concerning," said Greenwich Director of Health Caroline Calderone Baisley in a news release. "When the virus appears in mosquitoes early and before the peak of the season, there is an increased risk for the public in acquiring the virus."

The Greenwich Department of Health noted that as warm weather continues with frequent rain episodes, the potential for virus transmission is high.

The state will continue to test mosquitoes at all three locations through early fall as part of their program which maintains a network of 108-mosquito trapping stations throughout Connecticut.

Positive mosquitoes were found trapped near the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center site in Old Greenwich in July.

In addition to Greenwich, 24 towns in CT have had mosquitoes test positive for WNV: Branford; Bridgeport; Canterbury; Danbury; Darien; Glastonbury; Groton; Hartford; Manchester; Milford; New Canaan; New Haven; Norwalk; Orange; Somers; South Windsor; Southington; Stamford; Stonington; Stratford; Voluntown; West Haven; Westport; Wethersfield.

No Connecticut residents have been identified with illnesses related to WNV infections this year, the department of health noted.

"The finding of WNV positive mosquitoes helps to emphasize the fact that personal measures are extremely important to protect ourselves against biting mosquitoes during the day and at night," said Greenwich Director of Environmental Services Michael Long in a news release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website that WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people, but most people infected with the disease do not feel sick, the CDC says.

About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, and about one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal illness, according to the CDC.

The following precautions should be taken when outdoors:

• Avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s directions on the label (10 percent or less DEET for children and no more than 30 percent DEET for adults). Always wash treated skin when returning indoors.
• Avoid application of repellents with DEET on infants and small children.
• Cover the arms and legs of children playing outdoors.
• Cover playpens or carriages with mosquito netting.
• Don’t camp overnight near stagnant or standing water.

Eliminate standing water by:

• Getting rid of any water-holding containers (old tires, etc.).
• Raking out puddles and drain ditches, culverts, gutters, pool and boat covers.
• Covering trash containers.
• Chlorinating your backyard pool and empty wading pools when not in use.
• Changing the water in birdbaths daily.
• Keeping grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes cannot hide there.
• Ponds and stagnant water bodies that do not support fish, frogs or other amphibians that eat mosquito larvae may be treated with a biological control agent such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). It is suggested that the Department of Health or Conservation be contacted when treatment is considered.