Mosquitoes In Manchester Test Positive For EEE, West Nile

MANCHESTER, CT — Infected mosquitoes were detected in Manchester in the latest round of state testing.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station released its latest report on Sept. 6 after a round of statewide sampling.

Mosquitoes collected at the Oak Grove Street area testing station in Manchester totaled 492 and three were positive for disease.

One was for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. One had also tested positive for the disease on Aug. 27.

Three were for West Nile Virus. One also tested positive for the disease on July 31.

"Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy being outdoors, but it is also the season when disease-causing mosquitoes are active," state officials said. "There is continued risk for mosquito-borne diseases until the first hard freeze when mosquito activity ends."

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is responsible for weekly trapping, identifying, and testing mosquitoes for encephalitis viruses. Positive findings are reported to local health departments and published to the CAES website at:

• http://www.ct.gov/caes/mosquitotesting

This season, West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes have been trapped throughout the Connecticut River Valley and the state overall. See the latest CAES report here. To view the latest map, visit the CAES website at https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/caes/documents/mosquito-testing/2024-mosquito-trapping-and-testing/september/2024-wnv-activity-map-as-of-sept-4.pdf.

"To help protect yourself against mosquito bites and associated disease exposure, it is important to minimize time outdoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are prevalent, and wear long sleeves and use insect repellent if outdoors at any point during those times," state officials said.