Community Corner

Multiple Mosquito Trapping Sites in Greenwich Come Up Positive for West Nile Virus

Latest round of tests show West Nile infestation has widened.

The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program notified Greenwich health officials that pools of mosquitoes trapped in Greenwich earlier this month have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

Here is the announcement released early Tuesday afternoon by the Greenwich Health Department:

These mosquitoes are in addition to the first positive mosquitoes identified by the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES) in Greenwich in mid-July.  Each of the positive mosquito pools found have come from two of the three trapping locations in Greenwich located in the Old Greenwich/Riverside area and in the back country near Lake Avenue north of the Merritt Parkway. However, it is anticipated that all three mosquito trapping sites in Greenwich will become positive for WNV given the current conditions.

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The State will continue to trap and test mosquitoes at all three locations in Greenwich through early fall as a part of their program which maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state.  

In addition to Greenwich, 14 Towns in the state have been added to the list that have mosquitoes positive for WNV: Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Hamden, Litchfield, New Britain, New Canaan, Orange, Stamford, Stratford, Westport, and Woodbridge.  No Connecticut residents have been identified with illnesses related to WNV infections this year.

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“The collection of infected mosquitoes from multiple trapping sites in Greenwich is now beginning to concern me a great deal, stated Caroline Calderone Baisley, Director of Health.  “When the virus appears early and before the peak of the season, you know this could be trouble for the public in easily acquiring the virus.  As the warm weather continues, the potential for virus transmission is increasing.  Historically, the fall weather has also been very warm so the population will remain at risk until the first frost.  At this time it is important for all residents to know about WNV and for the town to continue larviciding; however, if the problem escalates, other measures to protect human health will need to be considered.”

To bring awareness to the public about WNV, the Department of Health will post signs throughout Greenwich.

When bitten by an infected mosquito, most people are able to fight off the infection and experience either mild symptoms, such as headache and fever, or no symptoms at all.  It is believed that approximately one in 100 persons bitten by an infected mosquito become ill.  In a minority of infected persons, especially those over 50 years old, West Nile Virus can cause serious illness, including encephalitis and meningitis.  Infection leads to death in 3 to 15 percent of persons with severe forms of the illness.  The virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, which becomes infected when it bites a bird carrying the virus.  West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds to people.  Although there is no specific treatment or cure, the symptoms and complications of the disease can often be treated.  Most people who become ill recover.

In some individuals, including the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems, WNV can cause serious illness that affects the central nervous system.  At its most serious, it can cause permanent neurological damage and can be fatal.  General symptoms occur suddenly between 5 – 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito and range from a slight fever, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, malaise and eye pain, to the rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, severe muscle weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms, coma or death.  Residents are encouraged to see a physician immediately if they develop any of these sudden symptoms.

 

“The finding of WNV positive mosquitoes helps to emphasize the fact that personal measures are extremely important to protect ourselves against biting mosquitoes during the day and at night,” says Robert Farfaglia, Acting Director of Environmental Services.  The following precautions should be taken:

  • Avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

  • If you plan to be outdoors for a long period of time, wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s directions on the label (10% or less DEET for children and no more than 30% DEET for adults). Always wash treated skin when returning indoors. Avoid application of repellents with DEET on infants and small children.

  • Cover up arms and legs of children playing outdoors and cover playpens or carriages with mosquito netting.

  • Don’t camp overnight near stagnant or standing water where mosquitoes are most active.

  • In addition, Greenwich residents are urged to continue to participate in the Town’s mosquito control efforts by eliminating areas of standing water around their homes which includes:

    Yard and Home Checklist

    • Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or any water holding containers.

    • Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard.

  • Keep rain gutters, drains, ditches and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.

  • Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.

  • Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

  • Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use.

  • Make sure your backyard pool is properly chlorinated every day.

  • Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.

  • Change the water in birdbaths and plant pots or drip trays at least once each week.

  • Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes cannot hide there.

  • Eliminate collected water in boat or pool covers.

  • Ponds and stagnant water bodies that do not support fish, frogs or other amphibians that eat mosquito larvae may be treated with a biological control agent such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI).  It is suggested that the Department of Health or Conservation be contacted when treatment is considered.

  • For more information about the Town’s larviciding program, personal protection and property management recommendations, the State of Connecticut mosquito management program, the following contact sites are available.  

       
    The Town of Greenwich Mosquito Management Brochure is available throughout the community and on the town’s .


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