West Nile Virus Season Has Begun in Fairfield County

Culex Pipiens has buzzed down in Fairfield County. His arrival marks the beginning of the dreaded West Nile Virus season.

The mosquito is the primary carrier of the West Nile virus, which can be fatal in rare cases.

Culex was captured near the bear cage at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport on June 21 by staffers on mosquito watch for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.

It was the first — and so far only — member of the species to be trapped in the state this summer and found to be a carrier of West Nile virus, according to Theodore G. Andreadis, medical entomologist and head of the state’s mosquito testing program.

But don’t think you’ll decrease your odds of an encounter with a blood-thirsty mosquito carrying the virus by avoiding the bear cage or the Beardsley Zoo.

That point was made by Kristin Dubay-Horton, Bridgeport director of health, who explained that Culex may have made earlier stops in Fairfield or Easton or other surrounding towns. Its sojourn in Bridgeport was a completely random occurrence.

But with the arrival of steamy weather, lots more of these most unwelcome summer visitors are sure to be found in southern Fairfield County.

Coastal Connecticut, south of the Merritt from Greenwich to New Haven, is the “hot zone” for Culex Pipiens, which breed in storm drains and catch basins rich in organic content, according to Andreadis.

“The hot weather conditions this week are very conducive, indeed ideal, for breeding,” he said. “We fully anticipate seeing an increase in these mosquitoes.”

“It’s time to start paying attention to the mosquitoes,” Andreadis said. “The risk is low, but it will increase in August and September.”

Andreadis’ staff trapped and analyzed 20,087 mosquitoes in 13 towns in southeastern Connecticut through July 11 without finding a WNV carrier.

West Nile Virus was first detected in dead birds in coastal towns in Connecticut in 1999 as well as surrounding states.

The virus is transmitted among wild birds primarily by mosquitoes, which may spread the disease to humans and other animals such as horses.

Although most individuals who are infected experience no symptoms or only mild illness which subsides without treatment, it can cause serious disease affecting the central nervous system, especially among the elderly.

Since 1999, 57 Connecticut residents have become ill from infection by the virus and three have died. None of the deaths has occurred in Fairfield County.

Mosquito carriers of the virus require water and a blood meal for reproduction. Therefore, strategies to reduce risk focus on eliminating standing water and taking precautions when outdoors.

David Knauf, Darien’s director of health, recommended the state website as a source for preventive tips.

These include disposing of water-holding containers, cleaning clogged roof gutters, turning over objects such as wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use and cleaning, chlorinating and covering swimming pools when not in use.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by a mosquito while outdoors, tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks are recommended, as well as mosquito repellent. The mosquitoes are most active at this time of year between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. and these are good times to be inside. Door and window screens should be in good repair to avoid mosquito bites while indoors.

Mosquitoes are also carriers of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and the Jamestown Canyon virus. So far, EEE has not been detected in Connecticut, but nine mosquitoes carrying the Jamestown Canyon virus have been trapped locally so far this year.

Broken down by towns, there were two each found in Easton, Fairfield and Wilton and one each in Darien, New Canaan and Ridgefield. None were caught in Redding, Weston, Westport, Stamford, Greenwich, Trumbull or Shelton.

Mosquitoes carrying the James Canyon virus, which causes relatively mild symptoms and is not potentially fatal, are commonly found in salt marshes.