public health

Newburyport Fire Department Offers Safety Reminders After EEE Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes in Area

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Newburyport Fire Department
Christopher LeClaire, Fire Chief
3 Greenleaf St.
Newburyport, MA 01950

For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 6, 2019

Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Newburyport Fire Department Offers Safety Reminders After EEE Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes in Area

Newburyport’s Current Risk Level is “Low”

NEWBURYPORT — Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Christopher LeClaire would like to offer safety tips regarding avoiding mosquito bites after multiple towns in Essex County have confirmed that the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus was found in mosquito samples.

Recently, mosquitoes from Andover, Boxford and Methuen have tested positive for the virus.

EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under 15 or over 50 years of age are at the greatest risk for serious illness.

“Although mosquitoes in Newburyport have not tested positive for EEE, we would still like to offer residents some tips to avoid being exposed to the virus,” Chief LeClaire said. “City officials will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates to residents as needed.”

Chief LeClaire recommends the following safety precautions offered by the MDPH to protect yourself and your loved ones:

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 the evening or early morning. 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 when you 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 at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

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Andover EEE Risk Raised from Moderate to High

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Town of Andover
Department of Public Health
Thomas Carbone, Director of Public Health
36 Bartlet St.
Andover, MA 01810

townsealandoverFor Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Andover EEE Risk Raised from Moderate to High

State Recommends Residents Minimize Outdoor Evening Activities

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 Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated the town’s risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) from “moderate” to “high” on Monday afternoon in light of positive mosquito testing for the virus, as well as a positive EEE test in a horse in Methuen.

The Andover Health Division has also received reports of positive mosquito testing in Pelham, N.H. and Boxford.

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. Ultimately, the Northeast Mosquito Control District determines how to best deploy its resources to protect the community, including where spraying occurs in Andover. The Town remains in constant contact with the Mosquito Control District.

Based on this new designation from the state, the Town of Andover and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are advising residents to curtail and limit their outdoor evening activities beginning at sundown.

Effectively immediately, all outdoor events in Andover should be concluded by 7:30 p.m. for the weeks of August 26 through September 7. The effective time will roll back as the time of sunset changes in the coming weeks.

“We are concerned about the recent positive EEE tests in our region, including multiple positive mosquito testing in Andover, and while it is deeply unfortunate to ask residents to limit their outdoor activities during the final evenings of the summer, we take the threat of mosquito-borne illness seriously,” Carbone said. “We are in constant contact with state officials from multiple agencies and are actively monitoring the situation for any changes.”

The Andover Public Schools and Andover Youth Services will also be releasing information about any changes to sports, programming or other activities.

The outdoor activity restriction 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 be distributed via the town’s CodeRED alert system.

The Health Division was notified Friday that mosquito pools on Haggetts Pond Road near Gavin Circle and on Chatham Road tested positive for EEE. This was the second positive test for EEE this month among mosquitoes tested in Andover.

The Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District has deployed supplemental mosquito traps to the other areas. Mosquito spraying will take place on Monday between 8 p.m. and midnight as approved by the Andover Board of Health.

Click here to see a map of the area of West Andover that will be sprayed.

Click here to see a map of the area around Chatham Road that will be sprayed.

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.

In light of the new high risk designation, the Andover Health Division has revised its important safety tips for residents:

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.

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 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.

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Methuen EEE Risk Elevated to Critical after Positive Test in Horse

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City of Methuen
Mayor James Jajuga
Methuen City Hall
Searles Building
41 Pleasant St.
Methuen, MA 01844

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Methuen EEE Risk Elevated to Critical

Residents Urged to Use Caution and Limit Outdoor Activities after Sunset

METHUEN — Mayor James Jajuga and Community Development Director William Buckley report that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated the city’s risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) to “critical” on Monday afternoon in light of positive mosquito testing for the virus and positive testing in a horse in Methuen.

A positive EEE test in an animal automatically raises the threat level for EEE to “critical” in a community.

As a result of this designation, the City of Methuen’s emergency management team is meeting at 3:30 p.m. today to discuss measures the city will undertake. Further information will be released after that meeting.

The City is following DPH guidelines and advising all residents to limit outdoor exposure after sundown. Residents should strongly consider cancelling or rescheduling any planned outdoor activities until further notice.

“We are very concerned about the critical EEE designation. It is not common for a community in Essex County to face this level of concern for the virus, so we feel it is extremely important to gather our leadership team this afternoon and make sure we have a strategy and messaging plan in place that will offer responsible guidelines to all Methuen residents and business owners,” Mayor Jajuga said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the EEE virus is a rare cause of brain infections or encephalitis. EEE causes very few human cases each year but can be fatal or leave victims with serious, lifelong complications.

The city and state offer the following important guidelines about EEE and mosquito-borne illness:

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.

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Andover Health Division Alerts Community after Mosquitoes Test Positive for EEE

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Town of Andover
Department of Public Health
Thomas Carbone, Director of Public Health
36 Bartlet St.
Andover, MA 01810

townsealandoverFor Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 16, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Andover Health Division Alerts Community after Mosquitoes Test Positive for EEE

ANDOVER —  Director of Public Health Thomas Carbone, Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Patrick Keefe, Fire Chief Michael Mansfield and Town Manager Andrew Flanagan seek to provide residents with information and safety reminders after mosquitoes in Andover tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

The Andover Health Division was notified Friday that two mosquito pools in the Abbot Street area tested positive for the EEE virus. The mosquitoes tested were trapped on Aug. 13 and were of a species that is known to bite humans.

As a result of these positive tests, the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District is deploying a supplemental mosquito trap to the area this weekend. Larvicide will also be deployed in the coming days.

The Andover Board of Health will meet Monday evening to discuss the positive test results. It is anticipated that adult mosquito spraying from truck based applicators will occur in a targeted area on Tuesday night or Wednesday if there is rain on Tuesday. A state entomologist will also attend the Board of Health meeting as a resource.

Residents can view the Town of Andover’s arbovirus response plan here.

As always, the Andover Health Division urges all residents to read and follow these important safety tips:

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 the evening or early morning. 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 when you 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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