By Paul R. Silverfarb
The summer is in full swing, and that means to keep an eye out for mosquitoes. In Greenwich this has become a high priority, since mosquitoes have once again tested positive for West Nile Virus.
On July 19, mosquitoes that were trapped near the Eastern Greenwich Civic Centers in Old Greenwich were found to have the virus. The “positive” mosquitoes were the first in Greenwich this year identified by the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station.
“We are doing our larvicide program,” said Michael Long, director of environmental services. “They did the first round back in June, a round of larviciding last week, a second round next week and another round in mid-August and September. This time of year is a good time to remind folks that West Nile Virus is still out there and not going anywhere. People need to keep up normal routines in monitoring properties and using bud repellents.”
According to a press release, the town of Greenwich has been conducting preemptive larvicide programs, which include the treatment of public and private roadway catch basins, public school grounds catch basins, and other property owned and operated by the town.
While the town is taking precautions to ensure that residents are as safe as possible, Long stated that people should take their own precautions as well.
Residents should avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, as that’s when mosquitoes are most active. In addition, they should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if possible, as well as use mosquito repellent. The repellent should be 10 percent or less DEET for children and no more than 30 percent DEET for adults. Also, remember to wash treated skin when returning indoors.
People should cover arms and legs of children playing outdoors, and children in playpens or carriages should be covered with mosquito netting.
“The finding of WNV positive mosquitoes in Greenwich marks the time to emphasize that personal protection measures are extremely important against biting mosquitoes during the day and at night,” said the town’s health director, Caroline Calderone Baisley, in a prepared statement.
At home, residents can also help protect themselves against West Nile by covering trash containers; changing water in birdbaths daily; keeping grass short and shrubbery well-trimmed; raking out puddles and draining ditches, culverts, pools and boat covers, and getting rid of any water-holding containers.
“We just want to get folks reminded on what they can do on their own properties,” said Long. “Any water that stands for a couple of days becomes a breeding ground for mosquitos. Make sure gutters are flowing properly, change bird baths, upkeep pools and any container that can hold water and doesn’t need to, just turn it over.”
This summer, no humans in Greenwich have tested positive for West Nile.
According to the press release from the Greenwich Department of Health, general symptoms occur suddenly between five to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito and range from slight fever, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, malaise and eye pain, to the rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, severe muscle weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms, coma or death.
Seeing mosquitoes that are found to have West Nile Virus around this time of the year isn’t anything new for Long.
“We generally expect this around this time of the year,” he said. “Each year varies. We have gotten them as early as June and as late as August. But we have had it for around 17 years now, and we want to use the report to get folks to take a look at their properties and do what they can to reduce the mosquito populations.”
Long said he believes that the danger posed by West Nile Virus will continue through October and into the beginning of November, as the first frost is what typically stops mosquito activity.
For more information on mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus, visit greenwichct.org or Ct.gov/mosquito. Greenwich’s mosquito management brochure is also available to download on the Town’s website.
