State reports second case of West Nile virus illness

A Stamford resident has become ill with West Nile virus infection, the second case of West Nile virus illness in the state this year, the state Mosquito Management Program announced today.

The person, between 60 and 69 years old, became ill during the third week in July and was hospitalized the following week with fever and severe muscle illness. The person remains hospitalized but is improving, the state Department of Public Health said in a news release. Mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile virus have been repeatedly trapped in Stamford and surrounding communitites from June 27 to Aug. 8. Statewide, West Nile-positive mosquitoes have been trapped in 40 towns this summer, including Groton, Old Lyme, Westbrook and Chester.

On Thursday, the public health department announced the first case of West Nile virus infection in a New Haven resident.

For information on West Nile virus activity across the nation, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile. For information on West Nile virus and preventing mosquito bites, visit www.ct.gov/mosquito.