The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Tuesday announced that a resident of Milford has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) infection. This is the first human case of WNV associated illness identified in Connecticut this season.
The patient, between 70 and 79 years of age, became ill during the fourth week of August with encephalitis and remains hospitalized. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies to WNV. This person did not travel out of the state before becoming ill.
West Nile virus has been detected in the state every year since 1999. During 2015, WNV was detected in mosquitoes collected at trap sites in 24 towns. In addition, 10 confirmed human cases of WNV were reported and were residents of Bridgeport (6), Fairfield (1), Milford (1), New Haven (1), and Shelton (1)
