WATERBURY – Despite what it looks like outside the window, summer is rapidly approaching and local horse owners should start preparing themselves for another battle with the mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus.

The Department of Equine Studies at Teikyo Post University is beginning the early preparations with its program, West Nile Virus – Facts and Strategies, on Friday, March 23, at 7:15 pm in the Eagles Nest (Leever Student Center).

Up-to-the-minute details on what is known about the disease and how best to prevent an outbreak in your own backyard or barn will be presented by state veterinarian Dr Mary Jane Lis and Newtown equine veterinarian Dr Ned Shankman.

Dr Lis and Dr Shankman will discuss the current information, the symptoms of West Nile, and the prevention and treatment of the season. A horse owner who has been through the experience of having an animal contract the disease will also speak.

The West Nile Virus hit close to home last summer, as there was one reported instance of the disease in a local horse. Of the 33 horses tested state-wide by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, seven tested positive for WNV (one each in Newtown, Bethel, Hebron, Milford, Middlefield, Cheshire and Glastonbury).

Two years ago, traces of the West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis were discovered for the first time in the Western Hemisphere in and around New York City, where six people died of EEE. It was also found in two species of mosquitoes trapped in Greenwich and in the brain tissue of many crows in coastal Connecticut.

WNV – named after the West Nile district of Uganda where the virus was first isolated in 1937 – is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause deadly inflammation of the brain. WNV can be spread to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes – a mosquito having been infected by biting a bird that carries the virus.

Although statistics point out the likelihood of being bitten by mosquito infected with WNV – even if a person is located in an area where WNV has been reported – are small. According to the DEP, only 1 in 1,000 mosquitos are actually infected.

But last August, a woman from Norwalk contracted WNV, according to a DEP item released last October. The woman was tested at the request of her physician after she experienced several days of headache symptoms without other specific symptons.

After several tests, the DEP determined the woman had been infected in mid-August while spending considerable time outdoors and without taking specific precautions most evenings.

“The finding of a person from Norwalk who was infected with West Nile virus in August is not unexpected,” said Dr. James Hadler, State Epidemiologist, at the time. “Norwalk had considerable West Nile activity in August and a public health alert was issued to inform residents of the potential risk.”

According to Dr Hadler, when bitten by an infected mosquito, most people will easily fight off the infection and will only have mild symptoms – such as headache and fever – or none at all. These people are not infectious and are not going to develop the disease of West Nile fever or encephalitis in the future.

However, the presence of antibodies in their blood provides information about the much larger group of people who were exposed to the virus. It also allows the Department of Public Health to find out who is most at risk of being exposed to the virus in the community and who is most at risk for developing the disease once exposed.

It is believed that 50 to 300 persons get infected with WNV for every person who gets a severe infection that requires hospitalization.

In the DEP’s final report on October 31, 2000, it stated that 137,113 mosquitoes had been tested for West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) with the following results:

One isolation of WNV was confirmed in Westport in the bird-biting mosquito species Culiseta melanura, collected on October 2.

Four isolations of WNV had been confirmed in Milford (2), Fairfield (1), and Shelton (1). The mosquitoes were collected in Milford on September 21, in Fairfield on September 19, and in Shelton on September 20.

Three isolations of WNV had been confirmed in Stamford (2) and Milford (1). The mosquitoes were collected in Stamford on September 20 and in Milford on September 18.

Two isolations of WNV had been confirmed in human-biting mosquitoes in Meriden and Stamford. The mosquitoes were collected in Stamford on September 11 and 13 and in Meriden on September 12.

One isolation of WNV had been confirmed in human-biting mosquitoes in Greenwich. The mosquito pool was collected on August 30 from a trap east of the Innis-Arden Golf Course.

Three pools of bird-biting mosquitoes had been confirmed for WNV, one isolation in Stamford (reported on July 21) and two in Norwalk (reported on August 16 and 22).

All mosquitoes were negative for EEE.

The state’s 2000 Mosquito Management reporting season ended in early November, but officials began preparing for the year 2001 almost immediately. According to officials, Connecticut’s mosquito management plans and documents are undergoing evaluation to determine their efficacy, incorporate last year’s experience, and prepare for the 2001 season.

Plans are expected to be finalized by spring.

Planning for public outreach activities is underway with training planned for municipal officials in April. Public service announcements and brochures remain available to municipal governments, libraries, educational institutions and civic groups.

New information will continue to be posted on the DEP’s web site throughout the planning process, with test result reporting beginning in May 2001.

For the most up to date mosquito information call 1-860-424-4184.

And tp get an early, hands-on re-introduction to the problem, attend West Nile Virus – Facts and Strategies at Teikyo Post University in Waterbury. Tickets for the program are available in advance for the price of $5 (tickets will be $10 at the door). To reserve seats, please make checks payable to TPU-ERC and send to Carole Baker at Teikyo Post University, P.O. Box 2540, Waterbury, CT 06723-2540.

For information, call 203-596-4631 or email CBaker@teikyopost.edu.