First human West Nile case in CT this season

Hartford, Conn./WTIC Radio - The state Department of Public Health is reporting Connecticut's first human case of West Nile virus.

The person sickened, a female between the ages of 60-and-69, is from New Haven County and has since recovered.

The department says she became ill the first week of August and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of WNV antibodies.

Last year, there were seven human cases of WNV.

“The first report of a human case of WNV this season along with the ongoing detection of WNV-infected and
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)-infected mosquitoes in Connecticut and in neighboring states makes this
an important time for health care providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for WNV and EEE,” said DPH
Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, stiff neck, headache or a rash.

Phillip Armstrong at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven said this is a critical time of the summer season when virus activity peaks.

Experts continue to implore the public to take precautions to reduce mosquito interactions.

That includes wearing long clothing if outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

Also, remove mosquito breeding grounds around the home such as standing water and clear clogged gutters.