Protecting yourself from West Nile

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- West Nile Virus carrying mosquitoes have been trapped all over the state, so perhaps it was just a matter of time before Connecticut had it's first confirmed human case.

Officials at the State Agricultural Experiment station trap and study mosquitoes all summer long, and this year they are finding a lot with West Nile Virus.

"We detected the virus very early, in late June, and it seems to be building up very rapidly as a result of the warm temperatures that we had and the frequent rainfall," Dr. Theodore Andreadis said.

They've found mosquitoes with West Nile in 40 different towns, and now a New Haven man has come down with the year's first human case.

However that's nothing compared to the hundreds of people infected in Dallas, Texas . More than a dozen people have died from West Nile, prompting authorities to spray insecticide from an aircraft.

The experts say the best thing is to not get bitten by a mosquito at all. That means using bug spray, especially if you're out at dawn or dusk. Wear long sleeves and long pants, and if there's any standing water around your property like a trash can, a potted plant, or old tires, clear out that water because that's where mosquitoes like to breed.

"Are you doing anything to make sure you don't get bit by mosquitoes," News 8's Kent Pierce asked.

"I wear stockings and I don't go in the woods," replied New Haven resident Elizabeth Badger.

"Of course I am. I'm using the spray for the mosquitoes. I try to stay out of the wooded areas," said Latasha Parrish.

"I wear that Off spray," said Thomas Jaynes.

That's the right idea, because West Nile has now spread across the whole country, infecting thousands every year.

"To date there have been 30,000 human cases in the US alone with more than 1,000 fatalities, so this is not something to be taken lightly," Dr. Andreadis said.

He says West Nile is not going away, and warmer weather patterns seem to just be making things worse.

For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website .