Paulo Verardi, professor of virology and vaccinology and head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, shares information that can keep Connecticut residents safe from mosquito-borne diseases.

In Connecticut, one would immediately think of West Nile virus, by far the most common mosquito-borne virus in the region. However, we have additional viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, and Cache Valley virus, that, luckily, are less common. Sometimes Connecticut has imported cases of additional mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika virus when people travel to areas where these viruses are circulating, get bitten by an infected mosquito, and then travel back to Connecticut.

Climatic changes seem to also be impacting the distribution of these diseases, especially because warmer temperatures can promote a wider geographical range of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at UConn is monitoring wild and domestic animals (mammals and birds), and helping Connecticut residents understand how they can protect themselves and stop the spread of these diseases by preventing mosquito bites.