West Nile Virus Found In Additional Manchester Mosquitoes

Press release from the Manchester Health Department:

Sept. 1, 2022

The Manchester Health Department announced today that a batch of mosquitoes collected in Manchester on August 15, 2022 and also on August 22, have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). These are the 2nd and 3rd detections in Manchester this summer. The first detection was on July 20. In accordance with the NH Department of Health and Human Service’s Arboviral Illness, Surveillance, Prevention and Response Plan the local risk level has been raised to Moderate.

According to Anna Thomas, MPH, Manchester’s Public Health Director, “We want to remind all of the residents of Manchester and neighboring communities to continue to take steps to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes and to eliminate standing water on their property. A personal protective measure, like using an effective mosquito repellent, is the single most effective way to minimize risk. The following is a link to EPA evaluated repellents effective against mosquitoes: https://www.epa.gov/insect-rep...

Every summer/fall since 2000, the City of Manchester Health Department has been collecting and sorting mosquitoes which are then tested by the NH Public Health Laboratory for WNV, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV). This information is helpful in determining the risk of illness to humans. If additional positive mosquito batches are detected, demonstrating sustained disease transmission (“High Risk”), public health interventions such as spraying for adult mosquitoes, may be indicated per State and Local plans. The Manchester Health Department maintains an annual Special Permit (SP-068) with the NH Department of Agriculture’s Division of Pesticide Control, to allow for expedited spraying by licensed pest control professionals, in such cases.

WNV is one of three arboviruses transmitted from the bite of infected mosquitoes in New Hampshire. The other viruses are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV). WNV was first identified in New Hampshire in August of 2000. Symptoms usually appear within a week after being bitten and can include flu like illness including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. Many people may not develop any symptoms, or only develop very mild symptoms. A very small percentage of individuals infected with WNV can go on to develop more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis. If you or someone you know is experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and headache, contact your local medical provider.

Prevention guidelines for WNV and other arboviruses can be found here: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/progra... control/mosquito-borne-illnesses.
Anyone with questions about arboviruses, including WNV, can call the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.
For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile.

This press release was produced by the Manchester Health Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.