Community Corner

Mosquitoes in Middlefield Have Tested Positive For West Nile

The Middlefield Health Department encourages residents to take personal and homeowner protections to limit their exposure to mosquitoes.

MIDDLEFIELD, CT — The State Mosquito Management Program confirmed that mosquitoes trapped in Middlefield have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). These are the first positive mosquitoes in town identified by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year. The Middlefield Health Department encourages residents to take personal and homeowner protections to limit their exposure to mosquitoes, particularly in the hours around dusk and dawn.

“Residents should remain vigilant in removing standing water from their property to decrease the chance of being bitten by an infected mosquito,” said Edward P. Bailey, Middlefield First Selectman, in a prepared statement. To sign up for Durham and Middlefield breaking news alerts and more, click here.

To prevent WNV:

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  • Limit outdoor activities from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Wear clothing that minimizes bare skin.
  • Use mosquito repellents on clothing.
  • Follow the directions on labels for insecticides or repellents.
  • Cover arms and legs of children playing near standing water.
  • Cover playpens or carriages with mosquito netting.
  • Remove objects that can hold standing water such as tin cans, tires, buckets, or bottles.
  • Fill in holes, ditches, or tree trunks with sand or cement.
  • Clean house gutters on a regular basis.
  • Empty wading pools and bird baths every 4-7 days.
  • Chlorinate swimming pools regularly.
  • Eliminate collected water on boat and pool covers.
  • Avoid over-watering of lawns.
  • Fix holes in screens and attach properly to windows.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has 91 testing station located throughout the state and identified mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus in over 20 of them in 2018, with more expected in the coming weeks. For more information please visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program at http://www.ct.gov/mosquito.


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