The Central Mass Mosquito Control Project announced today that the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus was found in mosquitoes in Westborough. The West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes in Shrewsbury and also in Tewksbury.
In a comment on this blog, Southborough resident and CMMCP Executive Director Tim Deschamps said the EEE-infected mosquitoes in Westborough were found “north of the center of town east of Rt. 135.” Deschamps said EEE has not been found in Southborough, but residents should still take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Here’s some guidance from the CMMCP on doing just that.
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 occur during evening or early morning.
- Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
- Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 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.
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 discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
- Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.
CCMCP is working with the Health Departments in Westborough and Shrewsbury to come up with a plan. They’ll be posting updates on their website at http://www.cmmcp.org/2012vector.htm. You can also follow CCMCP on Facebook for timely updates.
(Photo posted to Flickr by Gerald Yuvallos)
