2020 Mosquito Control Information from the Board of Health

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Mosquito season has begun in Massachusetts. Here are some simple steps the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends you take to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites and the illnesses they can cause.  

• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitos. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning.  

• Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitos away from your skin.  

• Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or Insect Repellent 3535, 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 the age of three.  

 • Drain Standing Water. Mosquitos lay thousands of eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitos to breed by regularly 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 twice a week.  

• Repair damaged window and door screens.  

The Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District (NEMMC) conducts weekly mosquito surveillance testing in Manchester from June through October, under direction of the DPH.  To date, our testing has been negative for mosquitos carrying West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).  

Manchester participates in an Integrated Pest Management program through the NEMMC.  

Services provided include the following: 

  • Mosquito testing and surveillance 

  • Catch basin treatments (with BT bacteria) 

  • By request:  site visits and inspections of potential mosquito breeding areas 

  • By request:  property inspection and spraying 

During the 2019 mosquito season, NEMMC, following an increased risk of EEE in town,  completed a onetime Town wide mosquito spraying, thereby providing immediate short term relief from disease carrying mosquitoes.  

For information on the 2020 Mosquito Control Program, including inspection and treatment services available to residents, please visit nemassmosquito.org/services-and-control-measures/pages/adulticide-requests. 

 For information and application to exclude your property from mosquito control spraying, please visit: mass.gov/forms/request-for-exclusion-from-wide-area-application-of-pesticides.  Exclusions go into effect fourteen days from the date the request is made. All exclusion requests expire on December 31st of the calendar year in which they are made.  

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