For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Portions of Andover to Undergo Truck-Based Mosquito Spraying on Thursday

ANDOVER —  Director of Public Health Thomas Carbone, Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Patrick Keefe, Fire Chief Michael Mansfield and Town Manager Andrew Flanagan report that the Town of Andover has been informed by the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District that portions of Andover will undergo truck-based mosquito spraying this week.

Four truck-based adulticide mosquito sprayers will be deployed to Andover on Thursday, beginning at 7:15 p.m. and will run until midnight. Spraying will be focused on the geographic center of the town, and officials have prepared a map to highlight the affected portion of town.

The Town of Andover is part of the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District, a state agency that provides mosquito control activities to 36 communities in the region. The Town of Andover works collaboratively with the Mosquito Control District to identify response plans. The Northeast Mosquito Control District decides how to best deploy its resources to protect communities, including where spraying occurs in Andover.

The Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District offers the following tips for residents ahead of spraying:

• Please keep pets and children indoors during the hours of the spray.
• Please refrain from nightly walks on the spray route during hours of scheduled spray activity.
• Air conditioners left on are OK.
• Close windows on the street side.
• It is OK to re-open doors/windows and let pets out 15 minutes after spray is complete.

Andover remains at a “high” risk classification for the transmission of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), the second highest risk rating.

The Town of Andover wishes to sincerely thank the Mosquito Control District for its hard work in protecting the community. Additional treatment areas will be considered by the district depending on weather conditions and test results in the region.

The Town of Andover and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health continue to recommend that residents curtail and limit their outdoor evening activities beginning at sundown. This advisory will be in effect until the first hard frost, and will be lifted after consultation with mosquito control and state health officials.

Messaging will also continue to be distributed via the town’s CodeRED alert system.

Residents can view the Town of Andover’s arbovirus response plan here. Residents are strongly encouraged to enroll in the town’s CodeRED alert system and subscribe to updates from the town’s website.

The Andover Health Division reminds residents of the following mosquito safety guidelines:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours. Consider cancelling or rescheduling planned outdoor evening events and activities. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.
• Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Apply insect repellent if you do go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus 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. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

• Drain standing water: Many 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.
• Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the EEE virus is a rare cause of brain infections or encephalitis. Very few human cases are reported across the U.S. each year, but EEE can be fatal or leave victims with serious complications and neurological problems.

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