IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE!!! - EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (EEE) & West Nile Virus (WNV)

Please visit the State's Website for the most current information regarding Aerial Spraying

https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts

 

UPDATE 9/13/19

West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Mendon
DATE: September 13, 2019
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Mendon, Massachusetts.
WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.
By taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their 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 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 repellant.
  • Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
  • Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] 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. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to 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 Screens - Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

UPDATE 9/10/19

Good Evening,
The following is an important message from the Mendon Board of Health. The Mendon Board of Health has been notified by the State that they will be conducting additional aerial spraying for mosquitoes. The EEE status in the Town of Mendon is still at “CRITICAL” and Mendon will be included in the State’s aerial spraying. Spraying is scheduled to start at 7:15pm this evening. The aerial spraying will take up to 6 nights to complete. Please remember that aerial spraying is weather-dependent. For more information, please visit the town website at 
www.mendonma.gov or contact the Board of Health office.

Thank you,
Mendon Board of Health Department
20 Main Street Mendon, MA 01756

 

September Spray Map:

https://massnrc.org/spray-map/MidWorNorSept2019.htm

Note, this is updated the day after spraying is complete so there is some delay before the map is updated.

 

UPDATE  on Thursday, August 29, 2019

To the Residents of Mendon,

The BOH was informed by the Division of Epidemiology and Immunization, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences – Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Tuesday (8/27/19) of two additional testing results from mosquito pools. These samples came back

testing positive for EEE. At this time, the best confirmed location information available to us from the State is that these samples were from the Northwest quadrant of Mendon.

The BOH strongly recommends that ALL reasonable precautions are taken such as the use of mosquito repellent, wearing proper clothing & the actual avoidance of mosquitos during the peak mosquito-biting hours from dusk to dawn. The BOH also strongly recommends the re-scheduling of any outdoor activity between the hours of dusk to dawn.

In addition, the BOH has received confirmation that spraying in Mendon did not occur on Monday evening (8/26/19) as anticipated. However, aerial spraying in Mendon did take place on Tuesday evening (8/27/19).

The BOH continues to monitor this EEE threat & will continue to bring updated information to you either thru verbal notices (Reverse 911) or via the Town's website at http://www.mendonma.gov.

The following additional resources are also available for related information:

  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health – www.mass.gov or call 617.624.6000

 

Be Safe & Stay Well,

Mendon Board of Health

 

8/23/19 Update:

This is an important message from the Mendon Board of Health and the Mendon Board of Selectmen.

The Town was notified this morning that an equine case of EEE has been identified in Mendon. The State has now elevated Mendon to critical status. The State will begin spraying areas of the Town Sunday evening through parts of next week. Detailed maps of the spray areas will be available on the State’s website later today. Links will be posted on the Town’s homepage. Effective immediately, all outdoor activities from dusk to dawn on Municipal properties have been canceled until further notice. This includes tomorrow's Mendon Fest, which will be postponed. Please visit the Town’s website for updates and links to all the information regarding this matter. Thank you.

 

LINKS:

EEE Fact Sheet

DPH Website:

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-health

Mosquito Borne Disease Info:

https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases

Aerial Spray Updates and more Info:

https://www.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019

First Round of Aerial Spraying Map (8/27, 8/28)

https://massnrc.org/spray-map/middlesex-worcester.htm