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The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has announced that more than 20 towns in Connecticut have had mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, including Westport, Stratford, Shelton and Bridgeport.
Residents are reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Even though summer is winding down, mosquitoes are still active into September. Some measures that you can take to prevent bites include:
- Wear mosquito repellent and cover bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Be sure that window and door screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeve shirt when outdoors for a long period of time.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
- To help reduce mosquitoes around the home:
- Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings.
- Clean clogged roof gutters.
- Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and wheelbarrows.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when pools are covered do not let standing water accumulate.
Redding had a positive mosquito in 2003, and has had a mosquito control program since 1999 aimed at reducing the number of mosquitoes around public grounds, ballfields and schools.
For more information, contact the Redding Health Department at (203) 938-2559.
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