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Tick bite prevention is important all year round. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is caused by certain tick bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), in the United States, AGS is primarily associated with the bite of a lone star tick, and less commonly by the bite of a blacklegged tick or a western blacklegged tick. In other countries, other tick species have been linked to AGS. In the United States, not every person bitten by a lone star, blacklegged, or western blacklegged tick will develop AGS.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from developing AGS is to prevent tick bites.

AGS reactions can include:

• Hives or itchy rash
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe stomach pain
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• Drop in blood pressure
• Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eye lids
• Dizziness or faintness
• A combination of symptoms referred to as anaphylaxis

AGS reactions can be different from person to person. Symptoms usually appear 2–6 hours after eating meat or dairy products. They can range from mild to severe, and some may be life-threatening. Seek immediate emergency care if you are having a severe allergic reaction.

If you think you may have AGS, talk to your healthcare provider. Learn more about the lone star tick, tick borne illness and tick bite prevention here.

Indoor Air Quality impacts everyone, including those who may be more vulnerable – children, the elderly, and people with health conditions like asthma and heart disease. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors. Learn about common pollutants and how to address them. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. For example,  source control, ventilation and filtration can reduce exposure to indoor pollutants and improve indoor air quality. Click here to learn more.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

Protect Yourself and Your Family

Indoor air quality refers to characteristics of the air in buildings and structures that can impact the health, comfort, performance and productivity of the people inside.

Why is IAQ Important?

• On average people spend 90 percent of their time indoors.
•  Indoor levels of some pollutants are often several times higher than what they are outdoors.
• Poor IAQ is an environmental risk factor that can worsen health outcomes, decrease productivity and increase building maintenance expenses and other building-related costs.

What are some of the common sources or factors that can impact indoor air?

• Occupants and their behaviors and actions.
• Consumer products, building materials, and furnishings.
• Soil gases, such as radon.
• Temperature, moisture and humidity.
• Maintaining building systems,  such as plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. 
• Outdoor air. 
• Building characteristics, such as size, age and design.

What are best practices for improving and maintaining IAQ?

• Source control: Eliminate or reduce sources of indoor pollution.
• Improved ventilation: Bring in fresh air to dilute indoor pollutants and exhaust them to the outdoors.
• Filtration and air cleaning: Use filtration and supplemental air cleaning to help remove pollutants from the air.

July 21, 2025

Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Easton

The CT Mosquito Management Program has advised the Aspetuck Health District that a pool of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile Virus in Easton at the Sport Hill Road collection site.  While this is Easton’s first notification of the season, mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus have also been identified in Bridgeport and Stamford.  There have been no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Connecticut so far this season. These events serve as a reminder for everyone to take steps to prevent mosquito bites at a time of the year when mosquitoes are abundant and active.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, residents should:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

• When it is necessary to be outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label. 

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light-colored and loose-fitting and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.

• Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and ticks. 

• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.

• When sleeping outdoors, use tents or mosquito netting in an unscreened structure. Treat camping gear with permethrin when possible.

• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito nets when outside.

For more information on the latest testing results and locations visit: the CT Mosquito Management Program and the CT Agricultural Experiment Station