CONNECTICUT — When it comes to the spread of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Connecticut health officials are taking no chances.
There have been no cases of EEE in humans in Connecticut so far this season, but the risk level in the eastern part of the state for EEE remains high, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
DEEP’s Mosquito Management Program will conduct insecticide spraying on the evening of Thursday, August 29 (weather permitting) in the Misery Mountain area of Pachaug State Forest, where EEE-carrying mammal-biting mosquitoes have been consistently detected.
The measure is being taken “out of an abundance of caution” to minimize the risk of the virus spreading to humans, according to a DEEP press release issued Wednesday.
Entrances to the state forest will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, and the forest and surrounding roads will be closed for the evening. They will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. Residential portions of these roads will remain accessible to residents.
So far this year in Connecticut, EEE has been detected in Canterbury, Ledyard, North Stonington, Sterling, and Voluntown. No human cases have been reported in Connecticut in 2024, but human cases have been reported in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, where there has also been one death. A white-tailed deer died of EEE earlier in August in Lisbon, Connecticut.
The insecticide that the mosquito management program will spray contains the active ingredients sumithrin and prallethrin. When applied at appropriate rates, this product does not affect humans, pets or other non-target organisms, according to DEEP officials. Campers were notified of the spraying and were asked to leave the area during the spraying.
“Mosquitoes are still active and residents should continue to take steps to avoid mosquito bites, especially during warm evenings when mosquitoes are most active,” said Philip Armstrong, a medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. “The risk of mosquito-borne diseases persists until the first frost, when mosquito activity ceases.”
The following forest roads will be closed as of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 29: DEP Trail 1, Gardner Road, Stone Hill Road, Trail 1, Lee Road, Lawrence Road, Trail 2, and the north entrance to Highway 49. Road gates in these areas will be closed during this time. Residential portions of these roads will remain accessible to residents. Visitors are advised to plan their visits and activities accordingly to avoid the area during spraying. Campers are advised to avoid the area until at least 10:00 p.m. Thursday evening and will be permitted to return after 10:00 p.m.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, DEEP advises residents to:
- Reduce time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Consider using mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone when it is necessary to be outdoors.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when you are outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light-colored and loose-fitting and made from tightly woven fabrics that repel mosquitoes from the skin.
- Make sure that door and window screens are properly fitted and in good condition.
- Use a mosquito net when sleeping outdoors or in an unprotected structure and to protect infants when they are outdoors.
Residents are also encouraged to take steps at home to protect themselves from mosquitoes, such as ensuring that door and window screens are properly fitted and in good repair and not allowing standing water to accumulate around your home. Empty water from old tires, wheelbarrows and wading pools. More information on mosquito control at home can be found on the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website.
“Because there is no vaccine for EEE, protection against this virus depends on personal protective measures to reduce exposure to infected mosquitoes,” said Manisha Juthani, MD, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. “Symptoms of EEE include severe headache and neck stiffness that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.”
