Mosquitoes with equine encephalitis are found in the Conn.

NEW HAVEN – For the first time this year in the state, mosquitoes have been discovered in eastern equine encephalitis, a disease that, although rarely observed, has a 33% mortality rate in patients hospitalized for symptoms.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station announced Wednesday that mosquitoes captured in Hampton on September 19th and in North Stonington on September 26th had been tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Both cities are east of the Connecticut River.

"Although mosquito populations are declining with the arrival of cool weather, EEE virus detection at the end of the season and continued detection of West Nile virus require constant vigilance," said Dr. Philip Armstrong. , entomologist at CAES. "We will continue to monitor and trap mosquitoes until the first frost."

The experimental station announced in recent weeks that mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus had been discovered in 53 towns and villages in the state. For the moment, no case of human or equine EEE virus infection has been reported this season, but 17 cases of human WNV infection have been reported this year in the US. # 39; State.

"Mosquitoes are still active and EEE and West Nile viruses continue to circulate in Connecticut," said Dr. Theodore Andreadis, Director of CAES. "I encourage residents to take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites, for example by using an insect repellent and covering their bare skin, especially at dusk and dawn when biting mosquitoes are the more active. "

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious viral disease in humans and horses. In addition to thirst for those who develop severe symptoms, half of the survivors suffer permanent neurological damage. The disease causes inflammation of the brain.

The disease does not pass horses to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

"The EEE virus is kept in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle mainly involving Culseta melanura mosquitoes, "said Armstrong. "This mosquito species feeds primarily on birds and is found in and around freshwater marsh habitats. It feeds occasionally on mammals and other species of mosquitoes that feed opportunistically on both avian and mammal hosts that can transmit the bird virus to humans. "

In Connecticut, outbreaks of EEE have occurred sporadically in horses since 1938 and the first locally contracted cases of human hypertension were reported in the fall of 2013.

EEE-infected mosquitoes have been discovered by the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program, a collaborative effort between the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ministry of the Environment. Connecticut's agricultural experiment, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut. Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science.

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