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Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

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First Human Case Of Tick-Borne Illness Spotted In Connecticut First Human Case Of Tick-Borne Illness Spotted In Connecticut
First Human Case Of Tick-Borne Illness Spotted In Connecticut For the first time, a tick-borne illness normally found hundreds of miles away was detected in a person in Connecticut, causing concerns that the insect that spreads it has begun to thrive in new locations.  The disease rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, which is carried by the Gulf Coast tick, was recently discovered in someone in Connecticut, according to a report from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.  Authorities did not say where in the state the case was detected.  The disease is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but with milder symptoms, the report…

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by Josh Lanier
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Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say
Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say The dreaded spotted lanternfly, which threatens trees, growing spaces, and urban canopies, has been spotted in Fairfield County. The latest sightings have been in Bridgeport parks and the community garden, according to the Bridgeport Sustainability Office and Parks and Recreation Department, which reported that residents spotted lanternflies in these areas. Both departments are asking residents for their assistance in getting rid of the dangerous pest.  City officials said that if you see a spotted lanternfly (SLF), please kill it; they are an invasive pest. "Look for the spotted red…

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by Kathy Reakes
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First Human West Nile Case Of Season Confirmed In Connecticut First Human West Nile Case Of Season Confirmed In Connecticut
First Human West Nile Case Of Season Confirmed In Connecticut It's time to protect yourself from mosquitoes, as the first case of the West Nile virus in a person in the state has been confirmed.  On Friday, Aug. 16, the Connecticut Department of Public Health announced that a New Haven County resident had tested positive for the virus. A woman between 60–69 became ill during the first week of August with a WNV infection and has since recovered, the department said.  “Symptoms include fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, or gastrointestinal symptoms for non-neuroinvasive disease, while neuroinvasive signs and symptoms can include high…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Mosquitoes Carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis Found In These 6 CT Towns Mosquitoes Carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis Found In These 6 CT Towns
Mosquitoes Carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis Found In These 6 CT Towns Officials are warning residents to take precautions after mosquitoes carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a potentially fatal disease, were found in six Connecticut towns.  The infection-carrying mosquitoes were found in six towns across Tolland, Windham, and New London Counties, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station announced on Tuesday, Sept. 12.  The six towns where the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) carrying mosquitoes were found were:  Hampton; Killingly; Thompson; Tolland; Voluntown; Woodstock. According to Philip Armstrong, a medical…

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by Ben Crnic
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Mosquitoes In Three Fairfield County Communities Test Positive For West Nile Virus Mosquitoes In Three Fairfield County Communities Test Positive For West Nile Virus
Mosquitoes In Three Fairfield County Communities Test Positive For West Nile Virus Mosquitoes trapped in four Connecticut communities have tested positive for West Nile virus, state officials announced.  The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program reported that some of the positive mosquitoes were found in three Fairfield County communities: Stamford, Darien, and Fairfield. Mosquitoes trapped in New Haven also tested positive for West Nile, officials reported.  Officials said the mosquitos were trapped on Monday, July 18, and Tuesday, July 19. These are the first mosquitoes tested by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) tha…

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by Nicole Valinote
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Mosquitoes Carrying Serious Illness Found In CT Mosquitoes Carrying Serious Illness Found In CT
Mosquitoes Carrying Serious Illness Found In CT Mosquitos in Connecticut have tested positive for a rare, but potentially dangerous illness that could impact the brain, the state Department of Health announced. Mosquitos trapped the Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown in New London County trapped late last month tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Public Health Commissioner Commissioner Manisha Juthani said while the detection of the virus is disconcerting, “It is important to remember that we do not expect to see a lot of mosquito activity in the month o…

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by Zak Failla
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Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found in CT Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found in CT
Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found in CT Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been confirmed in a Connecticut park, officials announced. The City of Hartford reported this week that two mosquitoes trapped at Keney Park on Tuesday, Sept. 14 tested positive for the virus. According to city officials, no additional Hartford residents were infected by the virus after the discovery. “Until we get the first frost, we should all take basic steps to prevent mosquito bites,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement. “Please report any potential West Nile virus infection to a healthcare professional. I want to thank the Con…

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by Zak Failla
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First Mosquito Pool Of Season Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In Connecticut First Mosquito Pool Of Season Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In Connecticut
First Mosquito Pool Of Season Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In Connecticut The first pool of mosquitos trapped by the State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program (MMP) has tested positive for West Nile Virus, officials announced. According to the MMP, mosquitoes trapped in Milford on Monday, June 21 tested positive for the virus, marking the first confirmed case of West Nile found in Connecticut this summer. Last year, the West Nile Virus was found in 13 mosquito pools in 21 Connecticut communities. 
“The West Nile virus season has begun with the first detection of virus in mosquitoes," Dr. Philip Armstrong, a medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricul…

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by Zak Failla
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Three From Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus Three From Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus
Three From Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus Three new West Nile virus cases have been detected by the Connecticut Department of Public Health according to a press release the agency issued on Wednesday, Sept. 9, bringing the state's season total to four human cases.  Two of the patients that fell ill in the second week of August, both between the ages of 20 and 39, are recovering in Danbury and Newtown respectively.  One of these patients experienced a severe headache and fever, while the second is recovering from West Nile encephalitis, which is swelling in the brain caused by the West Nile virus. The third patient, in hi…

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by Christina Coulter
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CT Resident Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In State's First Human Case Of Season CT Resident Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In State's First Human Case Of Season
CT Resident Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In State's First Human Case Of Season The first positive case of West Nile Virus in a Connecticut resident has been confirmed by the state Department of Public Health. Health officials said that a Waterbury resident who is between the age of 40 and 49 tested positive for the virus after falling ill in the second week of July. Tests later confirmed the presence of antibodies to West Nile in the patient. It is believed that the person who tested positive may have been exposed to it in the Newington or Wethersfield areas. “The identification of a Connecticut resident with West Nile virus-associated illness emphasizes the need to…

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by Zak Failla
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Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Discovered In Darien, Joining Bridgeport, Greenwich, Stamford Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Discovered In Darien, Joining Bridgeport, Greenwich, Stamford
Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Discovered In Darien, Joining Bridgeport, Greenwich, Stamford More mosquitos have now tested positive for West Nile Virus in Fairfield County, though there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in Connecticut residents. Mosquitos trapped in Darien became the latest to test positive for West Nile, bringing the state total to 21 for the season, up from just two cases a week ago, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Mosquito trapping is conducted at each site every 10 days, on a rotating basis throughout the state, with the goal of tracking West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, Zika, and other mosquito-borne di…

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by Zak Failla
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Darien Becomes Third Fairfield County Municipality To Test Positive For EEE Virus Darien Becomes Third Fairfield County Municipality To Test Positive For EEE Virus
Darien Becomes Third Fairfield County Municipality To Test Positive For EEE Virus A third Fairfield County municipality has reported mosquitoes collected have tested positive for the eastern equine encephalitis or EEE. Despite the cooler temperatures, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) reported that mosquitoes collected from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10, in Darien were positive for the deadly virus. EEE-infected mosquitoes had previously been found in Shelton and Stamford.  Other cities and towns were mosquitoes were found with EEE include Bethany, Chester, East Lyme, Hampton, Madison, and Ledyard, according to CAES. "Although mosquito numbers are o…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mosquito-Borne EEE Virus Found In Two Cities In Fairfield County Mosquito-Borne EEE Virus Found In Two Cities In Fairfield County
Mosquito-Borne EEE Virus Found In Two Cities In Fairfield County Two cities in Fairfield County are among the 26 locales in Connecticut to report cases of the mosquito-borne EEE virus that has been rapidly spreading. Shelton and Stamford were among 26 towns to report cases of eastern equine encephalitis. Other towns include:  Bethany; Chester; Colchester; Columbia; East Haddam; East Lyme; Groton; Haddam; Hampton; Killingworth; Ledyard; Lyme; Madison; Middlefield; Montville; North Stonington; Old Lyme; Plainfield; Salem; South Windsor; Sterling; Stonington; Voluntown; Waterford. Three people in Connecticut - one each from East Haddam, East Lyme and O…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile In 14 CT Towns, Including Greenwich, Stamford Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile In 14 CT Towns, Including Greenwich, Stamford
Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile In 14 CT Towns, Including Greenwich, Stamford State officials announced that the West Nile virus has been detected in 14 towns throughout the state, including Greenwich and Stamford. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) said the infected mosquitoes were found across the region including Stamford, Chester, East Haven, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, New Haven, North Haven, North Stonington, South Windsor, Voluntown, West Haven, and Wethersfield.  In addition, eastern equine encephalitis virus-infected mosquitoes have been detected in two southeastern towns including Voluntown and Madison. “…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Jamestown Canyon Virus Found In Westport In New CT Mosquito Collection Jamestown Canyon Virus Found In Westport In New CT Mosquito Collection
Jamestown Canyon Virus Found In Westport In New CT Mosquito Collection The mosquito trapping and testing program in Connecticut has revealed an increase in the number with the Jamestown Canyon virus, including one in Fairfield County, but no West Nile virus in the latest sampling. The number of mosquitoes collected the week of July 1 also spiked, up to 16, 485 from the week of June 24 when 13, 786 mosquitoes were collected, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is the state agency responsible for trapping, identifying, and testing mosquitoes for encephalitis viruses. The previous collecti…

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by Donna Christopher
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Mosquitoes With Encephalitis Found In State Mosquitoes With Encephalitis Found In State
Mosquitoes With Encephalitis Found In State For the first time this year, the state Mosquito Management Program announced it has found mosquitoes that have tested positive for the Eastern equine encephalitis virus.  The Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) positive mosquitoes were trapped in Hampton on Sept. 19 and North Stonington on Sept. 26, the program said. In addition, West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes have been identified in 65 sites in 53 towns and cities across the state. To date, there have been no reported human or equine cases of EEE virus this season, but 17 human cases of the West Nile infection have been reported in the…

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by Kathy Reakes
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First Bite Victim Of Asian Longhorned Tick Reported In Fairfield County First Bite Victim Of Asian Longhorned Tick Reported In Fairfield County
First Bite Victim Of Asian Longhorned Tick Reported In Fairfield County The Tick Testing Laboratory at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is reporting the first evidence of a person in Fairfield County being bitten by the exotic east Asian longhorned tick. The longhorned tick is an invasive species that was initially discovered on a farm in New Jersey in 2017 and has subsequently been found in eight other states. It was most recently detected in Connecticut in July, said the CAES.  The newly discovered tick is a major livestock pest that feeds on a wide variety of mammals including humans, but it is not clear how often. Longhorned ticks have been f…

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by Kathy Reakes
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New Batch Of West Nile Positive Mosquitoes Found In Fairfield County New Batch Of West Nile Positive Mosquitoes Found In Fairfield County
New Batch Of West Nile Positive Mosquitoes Found In Fairfield County Health officials are warning residents to cover up as a new batch of mosquitoes in Fairfield County have tested positive for West Nile. Officials with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station report that a group of mosquitoes collected in Easton on June 19 tested positive for the disease, said Dr. Philip Armstrong, the medical entomologist with the organization. Armstrong said the variety found in Easton -- Culex restuans — is a variety of mosquitoes that feeds almost exclusively on birds and rarely bites people "Easton is not a typical spot where we find the disease," he …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mosquitoes In Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus Mosquitoes In Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus
Mosquitoes In Fairfield County Test Positive For West Nile Virus The season's first West Nile Virus-positive mosquitoes have been found in Fairfield County in a batch of mosquitoes trapped June 19. According to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the mosquitoes were trapped in New Canaan. “The first West Nile virus positive mosquitoes of the season have been identified,” said Dr. Philip Armstrong, the medical entomologist at the experiment station. “This is one of the earlier detections of virus recorded during the last 20 years of the statewide monitoring program.” While warning Fairfield County residents to protect themselves against mosq…

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by Kathy Reakes