EEE-positive mosquitos trapped in the region

Mosquitoes trapped in North Stonington and Westerly have tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus, the first EEE-positive mosquitoes identified in either state this year.

"Identification of mosquitoes infected with eastern equine encephalitis virus in eastern Connecticut is not surprising at this time of year," Theodore Andreadis, chief medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, said in a news release. "Fortunately, the species primarily responsible for intensifying the level of EEE activity are relatively low, indicating a low risk of transmission to people at this time."

In Westerly, the EEE-positive mosquitoes were caught in one of three traps set in Chapman swamp. The mosquito monitoring program will continue through October. Massachusetts has reported two human cases of EEE.