Thompson patient, 4 others are positive for West Nile virus – News – Le Bulletin

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Thursday morning that five other Connecticut residents, including a Thompson resident, had tested positive for West Nile virus infection.

Three cases involved residents of Fairfield County (Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford), said the DPH, and the fourth patient is a resident of Thompson, Windham County, and the fifth patient, from Westbrook, Middlesex County. .

The age of patients ranges from 40 to 70 years and three patients were hospitalized, according to the department.

The department said laboratory tests confirmed the presence of anti-WNV antibodies in all four patients and that five patients became ill at the beginning of mid-September.

"It is very unusual for many people to be seriously affected by West Nile virus infection in September," said DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino in the statement. "More warm weather is expected this weekend and many Connecticut residents will be out in the open to enjoy country fairs, family gatherings and other events, especially in the early evening when mosquitoes are the most active. . "

"Using an insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites will reduce your risk of getting WNV," Pino said in the statement. "I would also like to remind people over the age of 50 that you are more likely to develop severe symptoms of WNV infection and that you must take special precautions to avoid mosquito bites."

"Although mosquito populations are declining, we continue to find WNV-infected mosquitoes in many parts of the state in our trapping program, and this will likely continue for the next few weeks until the first freeze is over. in October "Andreadis, director The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station said in the release.

West Nile virus has been detected in the state every year since 1999, according to the statement. Prior to 2018, 134 human cases of the virus had been diagnosed in Connecticut residents, including three deaths. Last year, three Connecticut residents were diagnosed with WNV infection.

Visit https://portal.ct.gov/DPH for more information on WNV human cases in Connecticut.