Mosquitoes trapped at Keney Park in Hartford have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to city officials.
Hartford is the latest Connecticut municipality to identify the virus this summer, which has been found in at least 15 other communities around the state.
A spokesperson from the mayor's office said the risk of contracting West Nile remains low, but the city's Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to take precautions.
The following measures can help prevent against infection:
- Wear insect repellent when spending time outside
- Wear long, tightly-woven clothing outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk
- Remove standing water in and around homes
- Limit time spent outside during dawn and dusk, when mosquito activity is highest
- Make sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and secure
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outside
More information is available through the state Department of Public Health Epidemiology Program, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, state Department of Environmental Protection and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
