BROOKLYN — The Northeast District Department of Health is reminding residents to take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are two diseases transmitted by mosquitoes that are of particular concern in the late summer and fall. The State Mosquito Management Program reports that an increasing number of mosquitoes trapped by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station are testing positive for WNV.

WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause serious illness. While infections are usually not fatal, patients who develop meningitis or encephalitis may suffer long lasting symptoms of the nervous system. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito- transmitted diseases in the country. A fatal human infection of EEE in eastern Connecticut was recorded in 2013.

Residents of Connecticut are at highest risk of acquiring WNV and EEE infections in August and September, when the number of infected mosquitoes peaks.

“SWAT is an easy acronym to remember to prevent mosquito bites, “said Susan Starkey, NDDH Director of Health. “Install or repair Screens on doors and windows; Wear protective clothing to cover bare skin; Apply insect repellent according to instructions when going outdoors - mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk; and finally, Toss any standing water that may be collecting on your property. Water in wading pools, bird baths, buckets, barrels, flower pots, pet dishes, and tire swings should be changed or emptied regularly. These simple steps can help you reduce your risk.”

Connecticut Mosquito Management Program

The response to mosquito transmitted diseases in Connecticut is a collaborative inter-agency

effort involving the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Connecticut. These agencies are responsible for monitoring mosquito populations and the potential public health threat of mosquito-borne diseases. The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. CAES begins mosquito trapping and testing in June and continues into October. For information: www.ct.gov/mosquito.