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07/31/2018 03:17 PMRecent lab test results have shown some mosquitoes along the shoreline have tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV). While this information can stir up some alarm, Guilford officials have said residents shouldn’t be too worried and basic preventative measures should be just fine—plus, none of the positive mosquitoes were found in Guilford.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) does the testing of mosquitoes and found mosquitoes in Madison and New Haven, among other towns and cities that recently tested positive for the virus. As of July 26, 17 of the 93 CAES mosquito traps located in Connecticut towns have had positive test results for WNV according to the CAES.
Health Director Dennis Johnson said no mosquito has tested positive in town this year and only one tested positive last year. The collection site in Guilford is up on Moose Hill Road.
“It’s a surveillance program,” he said. “The mosquito population increases from the start of July and the peak season for mosquitoes is generally the last week in August or the first week in September, so right now the mosquito population is increasing and if in that population there are mosquitoes with the WNV, [that population] will get amplified as well.”
The Health Department also released information to the town website alerting residents to the fact that this is the high season for mosquitoes.
“Mosquito-borne illness is a threat to take seriously during summer until well into September,” the post read. “Current high levels of trapped mosquitoes and field surveillance surveys suggest a very active season for WNV. Mosquito populations are building and will continue to do so, especially with the persistence of hot, muggy weather according to [the] medical entomologist at the CAES. Surrounding states are also reporting early WNV activity.”
However, Johnson said it is important to note that these are only recorded cases of the disease in mosquitoes, not in humans. He said the last time Guilford had a reported case of the disease in a human was back in 2000.
“People shouldn’t be nervous or alarmed about this,” he said. “They should just be aware that this mosquito-borne disease does exist, although it is very rare. Right now it is just in mosquitoes; it hasn’t transmitted to humans at this point and it is so rare that it is something I don’t think people should be too concerned about. I mean I would be more concerned about Lyme disease myself. We have lots of cases of Lyme disease and that can be serious.”
Johnson said common-sense avoidance tactics can keep residents safe such as avoiding leaving standing water where mosquitoes can breed and, when outdoors, using repellent, wearing long pants or shirts if possible, and knowing that mosquitoes are active at night. The Health Department put together a list of tips and preventative measures that can be found at www.ci.guilford.ct.us.