Milford Resident 1st Confirmed Case of West Nile Virus in CT: State Officials

A Milford resident has tested positive for West Nile virus infection, according to the state Department of Public Health, the first human case of the virus associated illness in Connecticut this season.

The identity and gender of the patient has not been released, but state officials said that the person is between 70 and 79 years of age, and they became ill during the fourth week of August with encephalitis. The patient did not travel outside of the state before becoming ill, and they remain hospitalized. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus antibodies.

"The identification of a Connecticut resident with West Nile virus associated illness that required hospitalization underscores the potential seriousness of infection," said Dr. Raul Pino, Commissioner, Department of Public Health, in a statement. "Using insect repellent, covering bare skin and avoiding being outdoors during the hours of dusk and dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten by mosquitoes."

Added Dr. Philip Armstrong, Medical Entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station (CAES), "We continue to have weather conditions that are favorable for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus. These mosquitoes are most abundant in urban and suburban areas with dense human populations. West Nile virus positive mosquitoes were identified in Milford on August 15th."

West Nile virus has been detected in the state every year since 1999. During 2015, WNV was detected in mosquitoes collected at trap sites in 24 towns. In addition, 10 confirmed human cases of WNV were reported and were residents of Bridgeport (6), Fairfield (1), Milford (1), New Haven (1), and Shelton (1).

The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science. These agencies are responsible for monitoring the potential public health threat of mosquito-borne diseases.

The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday – Thursday nights at each site every ten days on a rotating basis.

Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date. Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the CAES website at http://www.ct.gov/caes/mosquitotesting.

Exposure to mosquitoes and the risk of acquiring WNV infection varies by season and geographic region. In Connecticut, the risk is highest during August and September and typically subsides in October as mosquitos die off due to lower temperatures.

For information on WNV and other mosquito-borne viruses and how to prevent mosquito bites, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.

Image via Shutterstock

Written by Alfred Branch

(Editor's Note: We first published this story earlier in the week and here it is again in case you missed it)