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More and more mosquitoes are testing positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts, including Methuen and Cape Cod.
On Friday, the Methuen Health Department was informed that a group of mosquitoes in the Hampstead Street area had tested positive for the EEE virus. This comes after Methuen horses tested positive for EEE earlier in the week. The threat level for the virus became critical after seven horses and four people tested positive for EEE throughout the state.
Mosquitoes tested at Methuen were trapped on August 27th.
On Friday, the Cape Cod National Seashore issued an advisory after mosquitoes in and around Cape Town tested positive for EEE and West Nile virus.
By Friday, August 30, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had designated 28 communities as critically at risk for contracting the virus.
Mosquito spraying campaigns throughout the city have been launched throughout the Commonwealth to suppress the burgeoning population of this insect.
IAS are mainly transmitted by mosquitoes that have been in contact with the virus. The insect population has been flourishing because of the extremely wet conditions of spring and summer this year.
According to an EEE guide on Mass.gov, the types of mosquitoes most likely to transmit the EEE virus may be looking for bread (a biting animal) at dusk, that is, during the period between sunset. completely black. The exact timing of this increased activity is influenced by many factors, including temperature, cloud cover, wind, and precipitation, and can not be accurately predicted for a given day. It is therefore important to take extra precautionary measures in the evening.
What can you do to protect yourself from EEE?
Since the virus causing EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes, here are some steps to take to reduce the risk of sting.
- Avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- When outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridine (KBR 3023), IR3535 (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]aminopropionic acid) or lemon eucalyptus oil [p-Menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions given on the product label. DEET products should not be used in infants less than two months of age and should be used at concentrations up to 30% in older children.
- Protect mosquitoes from your home by repairing the holes in your screens and making sure they are securely attached to all your doors and windows.
- Remove areas of stagnant water around your house.
- Keep pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove stagnant water from the pool covers.
For more information, read this fact sheet on EEE.
© 2019 Cox Media Group.
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