Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in 17 Connecticut towns, including coastal areas in Fairfield and New Haven counties and the metropolitan Hartford area.
After this month’s heat and humidity, scientists have noticed a spike in mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus throughout Connecticut.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, or CAES, identified infected mosquitoes in 17 towns this season. This includes Branford, Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Ledyard, Milford, New Canaan, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Wallingford, West Haven, Westport and Woodstock.
Just earlier this month, the virus was only detected in eight municipalities.
Medical entomologist Philip Armstrong said these sharp increases are most prevalent in shoreline Fairfield and New Haven counties, as well as the Hartford area.
“We anticipate further geographic spread and buildup of West Nile virus in mosquitoes, with increased risk of human infection, from now through September,” Armstrong warned.
Part of the spike has been due to the hot and humid weather, according to CAES Director Jason White.
“The recent heat waves and high humidity have provided favorable conditions for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus,” White said in a statement. “We urge everyone to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.”
There have been no reported human cases of West Nile virus so far this season, CAES said in a news release. Since 2000, there have been 173 human cases of West Nile virus — including four fatalities — in Connecticut.
Of the 165,366 mosquitoes tested this year, 88 have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to data from CAES.
In order to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, CAES recommends residents limit their time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn and use insect repellent. Residents should also wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors.
“Clothing should be light-colored and loose-fitting and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin,” CAES added.
When indoors, residents should make sure their door and window screens are tight fitting. Anyone who sleeps outdoors or in an unscreened structure should use a mosquito net.
Liz Hardaway is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media through the Hearst Fellowship Program.
She previously worked at the San Antonio Express-News to help cover city hall and local issues. She also worked at the Sun Newspapers in Southwest Florida as a general assignment reporter covering politics, business, and health.
Liz graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. She enjoys cooking, reading and playing with her dachshund, Finn.