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| Residents urged to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites |
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HEALTH OFFICIALS SEE INCREASED RISK OF MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES IN MASSACHUSETTS
Board of Health want residents to know that the risk of mosquito-borne illness is on the rise in Massachusetts, and are reporting that mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus have today been confirmed in North Attleboro.
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Copy and paste this url to read the North Attleboro Town Hall's announcement in pdf format:
https://www.nattleboro.com/sites/northattleboroughma/files/news/wnvpressrelease_1_aug_2018.pdf
CONTACT:
AnneMarie Fleming RN, Health Director, Agent, Nurse (508) 699-0104
North Attleboro, MA - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the North Attleboro Board of Health
The mosquito-borne illnesses of greatest concern in Southeastern Massachusetts include West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
This summer, health officials have seen an unusually high amount of mosquito activity and an increased rise in the number of WNV-infected mosquitoes detected in multiple areas of the state. While local communities have had positive mosquito’s, until today, North Attleboro had been one of the few towns in the region that had not reported any mosquitoes testing positive for either WNV or EEE.
Both WNV and EEE are spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
People under age 15 or over age 50 are at greatest risk for serious illness from EEE, and people over age 50 are at higher risk for severe infection from WNV.
The sample testing positive for WNV today was found in bird-biting mosquitos that are most active dawn to dusk. Residents are being urged to take extra common-sense precautions to avoid all mosquito bites.
Residents are encouraged to take notice of the increase in EEE and WNV-infected mosquitoes in the area and particularly today’s detection of a WNV-infected mosquitoes in North Attleboro. Apply common-sense precautions to help protect yourself and your family:
Avoid Mosquito Bites!
Be aware of peak mosquito hours.
The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that take place during evening or early morning hours. Otherwise, take extra care to use bug spray and protective clothing. Mosquito netting should be used for baby carriages and playpens.
Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites.
Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Apply bug spray when you go outdoors.
Use a bug spray with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide),
permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol
(PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain standing water.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water.
Limit the number of places
around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold
water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently. Consider dumping the standing water twice weekly.
Install or repair screens.
Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors. Fix any holes or tears in screens, so mosquitoes can’t get in. The North Attleboro Board of Health continues to work closely with the Department of Public Health ular to monitor the level of EEE and WNV-infected mosquito activity in this area.
Due to the unusually high risk of mosquito-borne illness this year, residents are urged to make personal protection a personal priority.
More information about mosquito-borne illness and levels of WNV and EEE activity in Massachusetts can be found on the DPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.
Recorded information about WNV and EEE is also available by calling the DPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968).
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