West Nile Virus Confirmed In Greenwich Resident: Health Department

GREENWICH, CT —The Greenwich Department of Health on Tuesday said it was notified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health that a resident from Greenwich has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

The individual, between 60-70 years of age, became ill in early August with fever, headache, fatigue and some neurological symptoms, the Greenwich Department of Health said in a news release. The resident, who was not hospitalized, was diagnosed in late August and is recuperating.

According to the department, this is the seventh case of human WNV infection identified in Connecticut this year. The virus has been confirmed in three other Fairfield County residents, two New Haven County residents and one New London County resident.

"This case of human illness demonstrates that WNV can cause serious illness and whenever the virus is present, there is a potential for human infection. There will continue to be infected mosquitoes until the first frost so persons, particularly those older than 50 years of age, must take personal protection precautions to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors at any time of day, especially during twilight hours," said Greenwich Director of Health Caroline Baisley in a news release.

Greenwich continues the fight against WNV by conducting a preemptive larviciding program, which includes the treatment of public and private roadway catch basins, public school ground catch basins and other property owned and operated by the town as needed.

This year’s program began in June and larvicide is reapplied every four to six weeks into early fall.

"Controlling the mosquito population in the larval stage through the application of larvicide has been found to be a prudent action," Baisley said. "Although this measure helps reduce the mosquito population, it certainly does not eliminate it. Residents are therefore encouraged to protect themselves."

Director of Environmental ServicesMichael Long said in a news release the general public must be vigilant in eliminating standing water on their own properties and protecting themselves from biting mosquitoes at all times.

"It is important to recognize that the highest risk of exposure to West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes is during the months of August and September. In 2023 there were five human cases of WNV in Connecticut," Long added.

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.

For more information, visit the health department page on the town website.