The town of Manchester-by-the-Sea is moving forward with a town-wide spraying to kill mosquitos, after testing by the Northeast Mosquito Control District found one mosquito that registered positive for EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis), the rare but potentially fatal virus transmitted by mosquitos.
The mosquito, culiseta melanura, was found in the “northeast quadrant” of the town, according to testing.
The spraying will be carried out Wednesday starting at 6:45 p.m. by the Mosquito Control District, the same organization that has, when necessary, conducted mosquito spraying for years in the area. The spraying will last about two hours.
Prior to receiving the results, the Manchester Board of Health (BOH) held an emergency meeting Tuesday evening to discuss management of ongoing mosquito-related concerns. After speaking with the state’s mosquito control, reviewing the ongoing forecast of warm weather and discussion of the risks/seriousness of EEE the board voted to spray the town Wednesday. Upon further discussion they also voted to suspend all outdoor evening activities at 6 p.m.
According to the BOH, the spray targets mosquitos in particular, degrades very quickly (within 30 minutes) and leaves no harmful residue. The spray will reach approximately 150 feet on each side of the road. Residents close to roads are encouraged to close street facing windows while spraying occurs and may reopen windows 30 minutes after the truck goes by your home. Residents are being asked to stay indoors while the truck is spraying their street and, if they have an organic garden, to cover your plants. (If not, residents may simply wash your vegetables before eating, according to the BOH.)
Today’s news follows last week’s announcement that a local Manchester resident was infected this season with. Ten people in Massachusetts have contracted the disease this year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MassDPH). The local man, in his late 70s, had been working in the communities of Boxford, Topsfield, Essex, Gloucester and his hometown of Manchester, so it wasn’t immediately known where he’d contracted the virus. (The Cricket will continue to withhold the resident’s name until cleared by either local/state officials or family.)
According to the MassDPH, the virus that causes EEE is most often identified in mosquitoes found in and around freshwater and hardwood swamps. The EEE virus particularly infects birds, often with no evidence of illness in the bird, and mosquitoes become infected when they bite infected birds. Humans and several other types of mammals (particularly horses and llamas) that can become infected do not spread the disease.
Since the virus was first identified in Massachusetts in 1938, fewer than 100 cases have occurred. Over 60 percent of those cases have been from Plymouth and Norfolk counties. EEE outbreaks usually occur in Massachusetts every 10–20 years and typically last two to three years. The most recent outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts began in 2010 and included nine cases with four fatalities through 2012.
While it’s not a total “cure,” a frost is what is most lethal to the spread of EEE and West Nile. In the meantime, health experts emphasize safe practices to avoid mosquitos.
More information can be found at www.mass.gov (search for “EEE”) or residents can contact the Manchester Board of Health. All of this information is also at themanchestercricket.com.
