The mosquitoes trapped on July 28 in Stamford's Cove Island Park have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), announced the Stamford State Mosquito Management Program, as reported by Stamford Patch.

The state now plans to apply larvicide to all catch basins throughout the city.

"It is important that residents take precautions to avoid contact with mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk," Anne Fountain, Stamford's director of Health and Social Services, told Patch. "Simple measures including wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, head coverings and socks will minimize exposure to mosquitoes, which may carry the virus.

"The use of insect repellant is also helpful. In addition, we urge people to seek out and empty standing water in and around their homes. We will begin to larvicide all catch basins throughout the city next week with an additional treatment in September."

These are the third positive mosquitoes identified in the State of Connecticut by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year. The other two were identified at Guilford and New Haven.

To check the spread of West Nile Virus, the CAES maintains trapping stations in municipalities throughout the state of Connecticut from the month of June through October, where mosquito traps are set by the CAES every 10 days on a rotating basis.