Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project accepts requests for adult mosquito control from residents. Spraying is conducted between 2am and sunrise, Monday through Friday. Residents can call up to eight times per season to be sprayed barring any spray restrictions in the area.
Plymouth County residents may request spraying via the website, by phone (781-585-5450), fax (781-582-1276), drop off, or mail (272 South Meadow Rd Plymouth, Ma). A list of streets to be sprayed the following day will be updated by 3:00pm on their website: Additionally, if an email is provided at the time of request, notifications will be sent prior to the application. Pesticide applications are made via an ultra-low volume sprayer that is on the back of a pickup truck.
Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Massachusetts this year in a man in his 90s who was exposed in Middlesex County.
As a result of this case and WNV continuing to be detected in mosquitoes across the state, WNV risk levels have been elevated to moderate in 70 communities in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester counties.
“West Nile virus can be a devasting disease, especially for those who are older or have compromised immune systems. This first case in Massachusetts should remind people across the state that risk remains high,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “The end of August is frequently a time for people to enjoy being outside before the start of the school year and the arrival of fall, but I want to remind everyone of the importance of taking steps to prevent mosquito bites. While most people exposed to WNV will not develop serious illness, some may develop very severe illness requiring hospitalization. In some cases, the disease can be fatal.”
The first WNV-positive mosquitoes in the state this season were announced on June 16. So far, there have been 180 WNV-positive mosquito samples detected this year from Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties.
“The mosquitoes will be with us until the first hard frost,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown. “People should use mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient, clothing to reduce exposed skin, and consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning when mosquitoes are most active.”
This follows yesterday’s announcement that Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus was confirmed in two mosquito samples collected in Kingston in Plymouth County. There have been no EEE human or animal cases reported so far this year.
People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes.
Apply insect repellent when outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient (DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-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 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
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 the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.
Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
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 the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or repair screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all your windows and doors.
Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page, which is updated daily, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The presence of EEE was confirmed in mosquito samples collected on August 17 in the town of Kingston in Plymouth County. No human or animal cases of EEE have been detected so far this year.
Today’s finding increases the risk level of EEE to moderate in the communities of Carver, Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton.
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