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Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CT officials to begin mosquito testing for potentially deadly viruses as invasive species spreads
Connecticut's annual mosquito management program began on Monday to monitor the insects for the presence of viruses that can cause illness in people, including West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus, officials said. The mosquito trapping and testing program, conducted by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, lasts until the end of October, according to officials. This year's testing comes amid an increase in an invasive mosquito that is known for its voracious appetite and rapid spread that has alarmed state entomologists. Among mosquito-borne diseases in the region, West Nile virus occurs every summer in the Northeast, and has become the main cause of mosquito-borne illness in the state, officials said. It was first introduced into the New York City area in 1999. Last year, West Nile virus was detected in 309 mosquito samples from 44 towns in seven counties in Connecticut, officials said. The majority of West Nile virus activity occurred in urban and suburban regions in Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties. Thirteen human cases of West Nile virus-associated illness were reported last year from July 30 to Sept. 15. EEE virus is more rare than West Nile virus but can cause serious illness in people, with four to eight cases reported in a typical year in the U.S. The last major outbreak in the U.S. occurred in 2019, when the number of confirmed human cases rose to 38, with four cases and three fatalities in Connecticut, officials said. The virus was detected from 72 mosquito samples from 16 towns in Fairfield, Middlesex, New London, and Windham counties during 2024. Veterinary cases of EEE were reported from one horse, a white-tailed deer and two wild birds, according to officials. There were no human cases reported in Connecticut, but cases were reported from nearby states including all of the states in New England, as well as New York and New Jersey. While other mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue fever and Zika virus can spread in Connecticut, they have not been locally transmitted yet in the state, officials said. 'The mosquito season has begun,' said Dr. Philip Armstrong, chief scientist at CAES. 'We will be trapping and testing mosquitoes from 108 locations throughout Connecticut to monitor the risk of mosquito-borne disease. Typically, West Nile virus activity peaks from July-September with highest levels of activity in urban and suburban communities in the state. 'Seasonal transmission of EEE virus, in contrast, occurs more sporadically with focal areas located in rural areas of eastern Connecticut. We encourage everyone to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites, such as covering bare skin and wearing mosquito repellent, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active,' he added. The CAES has a network of 108 mosquito-trapping stations in 88 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday through Thursday at each site every 10 days on a rotating basis and then at least once a week after detection of a virus, officials said. Mosquitoes are grouped for testing according to species, collection site and date, officials with CAES said. To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, officials recommend: Minimizing time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. When it is necessary to be outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light-colored and loose-fitting and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and ticks. Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair. When sleeping outdoors, use tents or mosquito netting in an unscreened structure. Treat camping gear with permethrin when possible. Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito nets when outside. For information on West Nile virus and EEE, what can be done to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, the latest mosquito test results and human infections, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website at Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Connecticut agency begins monitoring mosquitos for these viruses
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Monday announced it has begun seasonal monitoring of mosquitoes for viruses that can harm people- primarily West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. The organization's mosquito trapping and testing program begins June 2 and will continue until the end of October. Milford launches Mosquito Control Program 'The mosquito season has begun,' Dr. Philip Armstrong, chief scientist at CAES, said in a statement. 'We will be trapping and testing mosquitoes from 108 locations throughout Connecticut to monitor the risk of mosquito-borne disease.' Armstrong said WNV typically peaks in activity between July and September and in urban and suburban areas, but transmission of EEE virus is more sporadic and focused on rural areas. West Nile virus emerges every summer in the Northeast and has been considered the main cause of mosquito-borne illness since it was first introduced to the New York City area in 1999, according to CAES officials. In 2024, CAES said there were 13 human cases of West Nile virus-associated illness, with the dates of onset from July 30 to Sept. 15. The virus was also detected in 309 mosquito samples from 44 towns in seven Connecticut counties. The majority of cases were found in urban and suburban regions of Fairfield, Hartford, and New Haven counties. Invasive ticks spread across more Connecticut counties Last year, there were no human cases of EEE virus reported in Connecticut, but cases did come up in New York and New Jersey. The virus is a rare but serious illness in humans with about four to eight cases usually reported annually in the U.S. The virus was detected in 72 mosquito samples from 16 towns in Fairfield, Middlesex, New London and Windham counties last year. It was also reportedly found in one horse, a white-tailed deer, and two wild birds. The last major outbreak of human EEE infection in the U.S. was in 2019, when confirmed cases reached 38 and four people died- including three in Connecticut. 'We encourage everyone to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites, such as covering bare skin and wearing mosquito repellent, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active,' Armstrong said. Visit the CDC website for more information on how to prevent mosquito bites. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
