By Sharon Challenger
(August 17, 2023) — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven traps and tests mosquitoes to monitor whether residents may be at risk for vector-borne illnesses from mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found in Branford, Bridgeport, Darien, East Haddam, East Haven, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hebron, Manchester, New Canaan, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Wallingford, Waterbury, and Wethersfield.
For more info on West Nile Virus click here: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
Mosquitoes carrying Jamestown Canyon Virus were found in North Haven and West Haven.
For more info on Jamestown Canyon Virus, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon/index.html
None of the tested mosquitoes were carrying the EEE virus.
Mosquitoes cause 2.7 millions deaths worldwide every year. It is estimated that more than 500 million mosquito-borne diseases occur annually. While 90% of mosquito-borne illnesses are found in Africa, instances have increased dramatically in the United States.
The best way you can protect yourself from mosquito bites is by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, treating clothing and gear, and taking steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
The following Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) report was updated on August 16, 2023: 2023-Testing-Summary-August-16
More information on mosquito testing in Connecticut can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Mosquito-Testing/Introductory/State-of-Connecticut-Mosquito-Trapping-and-Arbovirus-Testing-Program
Image of mosquito found in the Public Domain
