HARTFORD, CT (AP) -
Connecticut public health officials have kicked off the state's mosquito testing for West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis viruses.
The mosquito trapping and testing program began Monday and is scheduled to continue through October.
Theodore Andreadis, chief medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, says recent rain has created an ideal breeding habitat for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.
Officials say mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus were trapped last year in 30 municipalities. Virus-infected mosquitoes were detected on June 21 and the last on Oct. 17.
The Department of Public Health says nine Connecticut residents were identified last year with West Nile virus infection.
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