Wet weather could make this autumn the best season ever for West Nile Virus (and, of course, the worst season for people suffering from it). The Department of Public Health says that West Nile-positive mosquitoes have been identified in 17 Connecticut cities and towns: Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, East Haven, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, Killingworth, Milford, New Haven, Newington, Norwalk, Southington, Stamford, Stratford, West Haven and Wethersfield.

People infected with this virus may experience fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting or a skin rash. A rarer but more severe form of the illness attacks the nervous system causing neck stiffness, disorientation, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

People above 50 years of age are more likely to suffer the more severe health consequences. Last year, six Connecticut residents were diagnosed with West Nile infections with one fatality.

West Nile Virus, of the family Flaviviridae, is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but can also infect horses, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. In humans, the disease is mainly spread by infected mosquitoes.