Equine encephalitis is detected in Fairfield County

SHELTON – A mosquito trapped in the city was discovered infected with equine encephalitis Eastern, experts said Wednesday. This is the first mosquito in Fairfield County to be tested positive for the disease for about 10 years.

The mosquito was trapped on August 26 at the trapping site at Shelton Avenue, monitored by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The discovery is unusual because Eastern equine encephalitis is more prevalent in the eastern part of the state, said Philip Armstrong, researcher and director of the mosquito surveillance program at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Indeed, of the 64 mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis this season, almost all have traveled outside Fairifield County, in cities such as Voluntown (where 24 mosquitoes tested positive this season) and North Stonington (which had 17 mosquitoes). positive test for Eastern equine encephalitis).

"The EEE virus is more prevalent in the east of the CT but we also catch it occasionally in Fairfield County mosquitoes," Armstrong said in an email. "Last time, it was ten years ago."

He added that, unlike West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus occurs mainly in rural areas of the state.

"Concentration areas are woodland swamps where the main vector of mosquitoes resides," Armstrong said. "These habitats are more extensive in the southeastern part of the state."

Although West Nile is generally the main mosquito-borne disease in Conencticut during the summer, West Nile activity has been relatively mild this season, with only about 40 mosquitoes tested positive for the disease. Until now, Armstrong said, Eastern equine encephalitis is the main disease transmitted by mosquitoes this year.