Governor urges precautions to avoid mosquito bites

Gov. M. Jodi Rell is encouraging increased local efforts to raise awareness among residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The Governor's recommendations are in response to the presence of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in Connecticut.

"I am contacting local officials throughout the state to make sure that they are aware of the current situation," Rell said. "Results of the state mosquito monitoring program indicate an increasing risk of West Nile virus transmission to people in some parts of the state."

So far this season, WNV positive mosquitoes have been identified in 20 towns. Of particular concern are towns in southern Fairfield and New Haven Counties. All of the coastal towns from Greenwich to East Haven had mosquitoes that have been tested positive for WNV. In addition to an expanding number of towns early in the season, infected mosquitoes are being found repeatedly at some locations. The threat of WNV transmission from mosquitoes to people is expected to increase during the next few weeks.

"At this time, prevention of WNV infections is best accomplished by encouraging people to avoid mosquito bites," Rell said. "Simple precautions will go a long way toward keeping the residents of our state safe while enjoying summer activities. Residents, particularly the elderly, should wear protective clothing, use repellents, and make sure that screens are in good repair."

Most people who are infected and become ill with WNV will have a mild illness that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or vomiting. Less frequently, people develop severe illness of the nervous system affecting the brain and spinal cord. Persons older than 50 years of age are more likely than younger persons to suffer the more severe forms of illness.

Since 2000, 62 Connecticut residents have been reported with illness associated with WNV infection including one person during 2008, a Sherman resident who became ill during the third week of June. Three people over 80 years of age died from the illness.

Programs to control immature mosquitoes developing in water using larvicide are most helpful early in the season. While application now may help reduce the number of mosquitoes that will hatch in a few weeks they will not eliminate adult mosquitoes responsible for transmission during the remaining days of August.

To monitor WNV, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set 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.

Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn

Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair

Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven

Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors

Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use them according to label instructions

The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin

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 2 months.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings

Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling

Clean clogged roof gutters

Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and wheelbarrows

Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when not in use, pool covers

Use landscaping techniques to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property

Additional information on West Nile virus and what can be done to prevent mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding areas is available on the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.