The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that mosquitoes trapped on August 20 in Westport tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). These are the first WNV positive mosquitoes identified in Westport this year. Also announced were the first mosquitoes testing positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE). Mosquitoes infected with EEE were trapped on August 16 in Plainfield.

"From Westport to Plainfield and everywhere in between, we are doing everything we can do combat the possibility of these viruses," Governor M. Jodi Rell said. "We are attacking the larvae directly to reduce the mosquito population and to reduce the potential for West Nile or EEE to appear in Connecticut. No matter where you live in Connecticut, we are strongly urging you to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites over the next several weeks."

"It is not unexpected to find eastern equine encephalitis in eastern Connecticut since this region has had a history of the virus," said Theodore Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). "The confirmation of eastern equine encephalitis and continued isolations of West Nile virus highlight the advice to take the threat of mosquito-borne diseases seriously at this time of year."

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but often serious disease. Symptoms of EEE can include high fever, stiff neck, headache and lack of energy. The most serious result of infection is encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, and is fatal in approximately one-third of persons who become ill. Symptoms generally appear from 3 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. No confirmed human cases have been identified in Connecticut. During 2006, EEE infected mosquitoes were identified in North Stonington, Stonington, and Woodbridge.

"In Connecticut, the principal mosquito-transmitted diseases of public health importance build up during August and present the greatest risk during September," said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. "We remind state residents to take the measures necessary to avoid mosquito bites. This is especially important in areas where West Nile or eastern equine encephalitis viruses are identified."

Last week, Governor Rell announced that state environmental protection and public health officials have initiated a series of steps to better safeguard the public from mosquito transmitted diseases virus which includes:

So far this summer, WNV positive mosquitoes have been identified in seven towns – Danbury, Greenwich, Manchester, Newington, Stamford, West Haven, and Westport. Eastern Equine encephalitis virus has been identified in one town – Plainfield. Four persons, residents of Danbury, Hartford, New London, and Woodbridge recovered after having been diagnosed with WNV-associated illnesses.

Most people who are infected and become ill with WNV will have a mild illness that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or a skin rash. Less frequently, people develop severe illness of the nervous system that can also include neck stiffness, disorientation, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer the more severe health consequences if they become infected with WNV.

To monitor WNV and EEE, the CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state from June through October. Mosquito traps are set by the CAES every ten days at each site on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.

The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program is an interagency program consisting of the Department of 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.