A New Haven resident has contracted the state's first reported human case of West Nile virus this year.
The patient, who is between the ages of 30 and 39, became sick during the first week of August and was hospitalized the following week with meningitis related to West Nile, officials said.
Symptoms included headache, stiff neck, nausea, and muscle weakness. The patient was discharged from the hospital and is recovering, officals said. Infected mosquitoes have been repeatedly trapped in several locations in New Haven County including Lock 12 in Cheshire between July 12 and August 8.
“August and early September is the time of the year when people are at greatest risk of illness associated with West Nile virus infections,” said Dr. Randall Nelson, State Public Health Veterinarian with the Department of Public Health. “DPH urges everyone to take the warnings of the risk of mosquito-transmitted illness seriously and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”
The first mosquitoes carrying the disease .
Monitoring and risk assessment for the virus emphasizes mosquito trapping and testing results. Mosquitoes from each site are tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance. Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the CAES web site at www.ct.gov/caes.
