Environmental Health - West Nile Virus
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West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes are known to have carried diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Malaria, Yellow Fever and dog heartworm. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water from late May until the first frost. You can minimize the number of mosquitoes around the home by following these simple measures:

IN THE YARD

• Empty or drain all collections of stagnant water (old tires, bird baths, wading pools, cans in recycle bins, garbage can lids, plant pots & drip trays, hollow tree stumps, clogged rain gutters).
• Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts).
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.
• Properly chlorinate pools.

IN THE HOME

• Fix holes in window and door screens.
• Keep grass cut short and shrubs well trimmed so adult mosquitoes have no place to hide.

PERSONAL PROTECTION

• Avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants if you must be outdoors at active mosquito times.
• Use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer's directions on the label (take note of manufacturer's restrictions for use on infants and children).
• When outdoors, use mosquito netting on babies' carriages and playpens.

Other important numbers:

CT Dept. of Environmental Protection
Mosquito Management Program
(860) 642-7239
Hotline (recorded message)
(860) 424-4184

Norwalk Department of Health
137 East Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
(203) 854-7776

Mosquito Management Plan City of Norwalk

Currently there are 47 species of mosquitoes identified in Connecticut of which only 12 are considered pest species to humans. The West Nile Virus was found in two species, Culex pipiens, a common urban mosquito and Aedes vexan, a floodwater mosquito. Culex pipiens are most often responsible for transmission of West Nile Virus.

The City of Norwalk will utilize an Integrated Pest Management approach to minimize the threat posed by West Nile Virus. This includes:

• Surveillance
• Source reduction
• Larval mosquito control
• Education
• Personal protection measures

SURVEILLANCE

• Two mosquito trapping locations placed in habitats that support mosquito breeding will be monitored every ten days by Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
• Dispose of any dead birds in the trash (after double bagging) or by burial (two to three feet deep). Do not handle with bare hands.

SOURCE REDUCTION/LARVAL MOSQUITO CONTROL

• Reduction of the mosquito population with minimal use of pesticides.
• Targeted use of larvicide [Bacillus Sphaericus (BS)] will be placed in all catch basins in Norwalk.
• Bacillus Thuringiensis Isrealensis (BTI) will be used in stagnant bodies of water, floodwater sites, roadside ditches, freshwater marsh and wetland areas to help reduce the mosquito population.

  Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

  • Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn
  • Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair
  • Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven
  • Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors
  • Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use them according to label instructions
  • When using DEET (the most widely used insect repellent) on children, use a product containing less than 10% DEET and wash treated skin after returning indoors
  Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:
  • Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings
  • Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling
  • Clean clogged roof gutters
  • Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and wheelbarrows
  • Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis
  • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when not in use, pool covers
  • Use landscaping techniques to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property