Risk of Mosquito-Borne Diseases Continues: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Positive Mosquitoes Found
in 6 Connecticut Towns and West Nile Virus Detected in 33 Connecticut Towns
New Haven, CT – The State Mosquito Management Program is warning Connecticut residents about the risk of infection by eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) this season. So far, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has detected EEE-infected mosquitoes in: Hampton, Killingly, Thompson, Tolland, Voluntown, and Woodstock. In addition, WNV-infected mosquitoes have been detected in: Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Colchester, Danbury, Darien, East Haddam, East Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, Hebron, Killingworth, Manchester, Mansfield, Middlefield, Milford, New Canaan, New Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Tolland, Wallingford, Waterbury, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wethersfield, Willington, and Wilton. Two human cases of WNV infection have also been reported in Connecticut so far this year.
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Serving the Towns of Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Mansfield, Scotland, Tolland and Willington.
EHHD Web Page:
Mission
The mission of the Eastern Highlands Health District is to preserve public health, prevent the spread of disease, and promote wellness in the community. The pursuit of this mission is achieved through the enforcement of state and local health regulations, monitoring the health status of the community, informing and educating citizens on health issues, running programs to support community health efforts, and collaborating with community public health partners.
Service Area
The Eastern Highlands Health District is one of nineteen local Health Districts in the State of Connecticut. Established on June 6, 1997, it serves the towns of Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Mansfield, Scotland, Tolland, and Willington, with a total district population of 77,792.
Our Organization
The District is a governmental entity authorized under Connecticut statutes for the purpose of providing local public health services. A Board of Directors, representing each member town, governs the Health District. The board appoints a Director of Health who acts as the chief executive officer of the Health District and as a delegated agent of the State Commissioner of Public Health for the purpose of enforcing the Public Health Code.
What We Do
The specific services provided by the District include septic system inspection and approval; well and water quality monitoring; food protection; lead investigations; radon prevention; public bathing area monitoring; and public health complaint investigations. The District also has a communicable disease control program for disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, and an expanding public health education and training program. Other public health functions conducted by the district include data collection, analysis, and health planning activities.
From the Director
The Eastern Highlands Health District strives to put our motto of "preventing illness and promoting wellness" at the forefront of all services we offer. The environmental health program provides the basic duties for which the Health District is best known, and their services are the backbone of our efforts to "prevent illness" in our communities. Complementing this effort, the public health emergency preparedness program develops and secures the critical resources necessary to prepare for and respond to a public health emergency. Additionally, promoting wellness continues to be a guiding force as we explore areas of need in our communities.
We have many resources available to the public, and are here if you have questions. Whether your question or concern is regarding septic or well issues, food safety, emergency preparedness, or health promotion topics, we have answers!
My door is always open.
Regards,
Robert Miller, M.P.H., R.S.,
Director of Health