May 1, 2012

DILLON TO W. RIVER MOSQUITOS: BUG OFF

New Haven Independent

Six years ago, a mosquito killed a woman in West River by biting her. State Rep. Pat Dillon wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

The mosquito carried the West Nile virus. The incident prompted a public-health campaign urging seniors to stay indoors on hot days and neighbors in general to remove stagnant pools of water and use bug repellent.

Dillon and New Haven state Sen. Toni Harp want the state to keep closer watch on the neighborhood now, to work with the city’s health department to “eliminate mosquito breadding areas” and “enforce a ban on standing water.” The pair of legislators has introduced a measure in the General Assembly instructing the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to carry out that mission in and around West River.

“Mosquito control must remain a priority,” Dillon stated in a release. “Just last year cuts were proposed to the Agriculture Experiment Station. We want to make sure the state is committed to protecting public health.”