Sept. 03--An elderly Greenwich resident has tested positive for West Nile virus and is hospitalized, becoming the third person in the state reported to have contracted the virus this year, the state Department of Public Health announced Thursday.
The Greenwich resident, in her 80s, became ill during the last week of August and is hospitalized with encephalitis, an illness characterized by fever, headache and confusion, according to the state. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies for West Nile virus.
William Gerrish, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health, said he could not release any further information about the resident, and did not have any word on the individual's condition.
"West Nile virus is here in our state, and obviously other states, and we're advising people to take precautions (and) do common-sense things to minimize their exposure," Gerrish said.
People, particularly those 50 and older, are advised to limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear pants and long-sleeved shirts, as well as mosquito repellent when outside during those times.
Mosquitoes trapped in Greenwich recently tested positive for the virus for the first time this summer. The season extends until the first frost. So far this season, West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes have been identified in 19 Connecticut towns -- Bethel, Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Manchester, Meriden, Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, New Britain, New Haven, Orange, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, West Haven, Westport and Wethersfield.
Greenwich Health Director Caroline Calderone Baisley said the last report of an individual contracting West Nile in Greenwich was in 2003. The virus was confirmed in a Trumbull resident in June and a New Haven resident in August. Two additional Connecticut residents were reported infected while traveling out of the state.
For information on West Nile virus visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website at www.ct.gov/mosquito.
In 2009, there were no human cases of West Nile virus identified in the state; however, in 2008, there were six human cases confirmed.
"When you have positive mosquitoes, the chances of getting a human case are there, (but) it's not extremely high," Calderone Baisley said. "It's something people need to be more aware of."
Most people are able to fight off the infection, and they experience either mild symptoms, such as headache and fever, or no symptoms at all, according to health officials. The virus can cause serious illness in some people, particularly the elderly.
Calderone Baisley said the town tries to prevent West Nile virus infection by conducting a pre-emptive larvicide program, which includes the treatment of public and private roadway catch basins and those on public school grounds, and other property owned and operated by the town as needed. This year's program began in June, with larvicide reapplied every four to six weeks. The last larvicide application was done last month.
Residents should also drain items on their property at least once a week that may have collected water, such as pool covers , bird baths and containers to catch rainwater used in gardening. If people have standing water that they can't drain, they can buy mosquito dunks, which contain larvae-killing bacteria.
To date, mosquitoes with eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEE, have been identified in only in North Stonington. No illnesses in people or horses attributed to EEE have been reported.
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