West Nile Virus Found in Easton

From Mark Cooper, Director of the Weston Westport Health District 

that West Nile  Virus has now been found in mosquitoes trapped in Easton. The New Haven Agricultural  Experiment Station typically finds mosquitoes positive for the West Nile virus around this time  each year. With plenty of time before the first frost that ends the mosquito season locally, there is concern that the number of infected mosquitoes will continue to increase, increasing the potential  for human exposure. With weather conditions favorable for mosquitoes and with the number of  infected mosquitoes likely to be increasing, precautions should be exercised to avoid being bitten by a mosquito.  The mosquitoes testing positive were Culex pipiens mosquitoes the predominantly feed on bird hosts, but will given  the opportunity, will feed on humans.  

No human cases of West Nile Virus have been identified yet in Easton, Weston or Westport at this time. However,  continued warm and rainy weather in the forecast, Mr. Cooper stated that “it is recommended to eliminate any  standing water around your home and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites”. Mosquitoes are still depositing their eggs in any pool of water they can find and will be eagerly looking for someone's blood to feed on. 

The Health District recommends residents take the following precautions: 

• Eliminate any object outside that can hold water and become a breeding place for mosquitoes. • Clean house gutters that may be retaining water. 

• Empty wading pools and bird baths every few days. 

• Chlorinate swimming pools regularly. 

• Make sure the covers that are on grills, boats, pools, and other equipment do not collect water. • Also, be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair to avoid mosquito bites when  indoors. 

Tips for avoiding mosquito bites when outdoors: 

Mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce bites from  mosquitoes that feed on people: 

• Be particularly careful at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. 

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven. • Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors. 

• Consider the use of CDC- recommended mosquito repellents, containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon  eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone, and apply according to directions, when it is necessary to be  outdoors. 

• When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6  percent lasts approximately two hours and 20 percent for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning  indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less  than two months old. 

For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the Health District's Web site at www.wwhd.org and/or the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.