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Westford Health Dept. EEE and Mosquito Spraying Alerts

Ellen Donohue, Neighbor

　

Westford Health Department Issues Health Alert on Eastern Equine Encephalitis & Spraying Plans

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced to area Health Departments earlier this week that a horse in Tyngsborough is confirmed to have Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

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To be proactive and take measures to protect public health and safety, the Westford Board of Health (BOH) has authorized Central MA Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) according to CMMCP

recommendations and followed protocols, to spray the nearby roadways on Thursday evening September 5th, 2013. This will be done in the area of closest proximity to where the positive horse was found,

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in an effort to help reduce the adult mosquito population.  

　

** Please note that this preventative spraying measure only has a SHORT TERM AFFECT **

　

Below is the information which will also been posted on the Health Department and Town websites.

ROADS TENTATIVELY INCLUDED FOR SPRAYING (May be all or partial):

　

　

CALDWELL DR

CHANDLER RD

COMMERCE WAY

COOPER'S WAY

CURREN DR

DANLEY DR

GROTON RD (From Russel's Way to Chelmsford Line)

KESTREL LN

MAKEPEACE RD

MITCHELL WAY

MORRISON LN

OAK HILL RD EXT.

PERHAM CIR

QUARRY HILL RD

RUSSELLS WAY

SHERBURNE LN

TYLER RD

VINEYARD RD

　

　

SPRAYING WILL OCCUR:

  • Date: Thursday September 5th, 2013  
  • Time: After Sunset (until completed)   
  • Area: Roadways as listed above and shown on the map below

    • PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE

  • Close windows & turn off air conditioning units (unless recirculating indoor air) until spraying truck passes your home
  • Keep pets and individuals indoors during spraying
  • From CMMCP:

    • PROCESS FOR OPTING OUT OF SPRAYING:

    　

    From CMMCP "…anyone can opt out, and we will be observing all exclusion areas already on file; anyone that wants a new exclusion will have to call our office ( 508 393-3055 ) before 3PM today (the day of spraying) to give us time to locate, contact, etc. (if possible)…"

    　

    HELPFUL LINKS:

    　

    The Pesticide Used:

    www.cmmcp.org/pesticide.htm 

    　

    FAQ’s About Spraying and Mosquito Control (from MDPH):  

    www.cmmcp.org/faq_spray_mosquito.pdf 

    　

    We have also received inquiries as to how residents concerned about mosquito activity may have their private property surveyed to see if it is a candidate for spraying. Residents can request an investigation/spraying by calling CMMCP @508-393-3055. This is a service they provide the Westford community and is free of charge.

    　

    Additionally the Health Department wants to provide information to you about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself and your family from exposure.

    　

    INFORMATION ON EEE AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

    　

    What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

    Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus.

    　

    How is the EEE virus spread?

    The virus that causes EEE is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. In Massachusetts, the virus is most often identified in mosquitoes found in and around freshwater, hardwood swamps.

    More information about different types of mosquitoes that can spread the virus can be found on the MDPH website at

    www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.  EEE virus particularly infects birds, often with

    no evidence of illness in the bird. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite infected birds. Although humans and several other types of mammals, particularly horses and llamas, can become infected,

    they do not spread disease.

    　

    How common is EEE in Massachusetts?

    EEE is a very rare disease. Since the virus was first identified in Massachusetts in 1938, fewer than 100 cases have occurred. Over 60% of those cases have been from Plymouth and Norfolk counties.

    Outbreaks of EEE usually occur in Massachusetts every 10-20 years. These outbreaks will typically last two to three years. The most recent outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts began in 2004 and included

    13 cases with six fatalities through 2006.

    　

    What are the symptoms of EEE?

    The first symptoms of EEE are fever (often 103º to 106ºF), stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy. These symptoms show up three to ten days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Inflammation and

    swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and frequent serious complication. The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week.

    　

    What is the treatment for EEE?

    There is no treatment for EEE. In Massachusetts, about half of the people identified with EEE died from the infection. People who survive this disease will often be permanently disabled.

    Few people recover completely.

    　

    • What can you do to protect yourself from EEE?
    • Since the virus that causes EEE is spread by mosquitoes, here are some things you can do to reduce your chances of being bitten:
    • Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
    • When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

    • Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid) or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions given 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.

    • Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
    • Remove areas of standing water around your home. Here are some suggestions:
    • Look around outside your house for containers and other things that might collect water and turn them over, regularly empty them, or dispose of them.
    • Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors so that water can drain out.
    • Clean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
    • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
    • Change the water in birdbaths every few days; aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
    • Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.
    • Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

      • More information on choosing and using repellents safely is included in the MDPH Mosquito Repellents fact sheet which can be viewed online at:

      http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/factsheets/mosquito-repellents.pdf

      　

      If you can’t go online, contact the MDPH at (617) 983-6800 for a hard copy.

      　

      Where can I get more information?

      Your doctor, nurse, or health care clinic, or your local board of health (listed in the telephone directory under local government)

      The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at (617) 983-6800 or toll-free at (888) 658-2850, or on the MDPH Arbovirus website at

      www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito

      •

      ealth effects of pesticides, MDPH, Center for Environmental Health at 617-624-5757

      　

      Mosquito control in your city or town: Mosquito control in Massachusetts is conducted through nine mosquito control districts. The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB)

      oversees all nine districts. Contact information for each district can be found online at

      www.mass.gov/agr/mosquito/districts.htm. You may also contact the SRMCB within the Massachusetts

      Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1777 or your local board of health.

      　

      ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:

      :

      　

      MA Department of Public Health (General Arbovirus Information):  

      www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito

      　

      CDC Eastern Equine Encephalitis Fact Sheet:

      http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/factsheets/eee.pdf

      　

      DPH Ground Spraying Fact Sheet:

      www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/factsheets/mosquito-spraying.pdf 

      　

      　

      TO OBTAIN OTHER INFORMATION:

      　

      Central MA Mosquito Control Project:

      www.CMMCP.org

      　

      Westford Health Department:  

      www.westfordma.gov/boh

      　

      For additional information please contact Darren R. MacCaughey R.S., Director of Environmental Services at 978 692-5509 or the MDPH hotline at 1-866-627-7968.

      　

      For information on mosquito spraying/testing in our area contact the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project @ 508-393-3055 between 7AM –3:30 PM Monday-Friday.

      　

      TENTATIVE SPRAY AREAS

      　

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