The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that EEE virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Acton, Massachusetts. In 2011, 4,604 mosquito samples were tested for EEE virus, and 80 positive samples were identified in Massachusetts. Acton had no EEE virus positive mosquito samples identified in 2011.
EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under15 years of age or over 50 years of age are at greatest risk for serious illness.
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.
While the Acton Health Department continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies, locally we are also actively working with the Central Mass Mosquito Control Project to provide an appropriate mosquito control response in the area where the positive finding of EEE was found. Check out the Town's Fact sheets on EEE.
Also see Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts.
Jim Snyder-Grant
1:54 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
All of these precautions will reduce your risk much more effectively and safely then spraying. Based on what's happened in other towns such as Boxborough, I'm sure the town and the CMMCP will work out a truck-mounted spray plan for some parts of Acton, but don't rely on that to keep you safe.
Laura R
2:23 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
the results reported are from 2011 . . . how concerned should we be today?
Debra Simes
3:20 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Just talked to someone at Central MA Mosquito Control, who said the subject insect was found near the intersection of 27 and 2A. They're in contact with the BoH on plans for any spraying that might happen. FYI, adulticiding (via aerial spraying) is not terribly effective beyond the short while after the spraying occurs; personal precautions are fairly effective. The pesticide drifts up to 100 feet, so if yours is a "no spray" property, as mine is, and the aerial spraying happens all around you, it may not mean all that much to be a "no spray" lot.
Debra Simes
3:22 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
CMMCP is currently using a pesticide called sumithrin (a neurotoxin). From the JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2003 • VOL. 23, NO. 2:
"The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide sumithrin is commonly used to kill household insects and mosquitoes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about 100 million applications of sumithrin are made annually in U.S. homes, yards, and gardens.
• Sumithrin is a neuropoison. Symptoms of exposure include dizziness, headache, fatigue and diarrhea.
• In laboratory tests, sumithrin has damaged the liver and the kidneys. It has also caused anemia and increased the incidence of liver cancer.
• In breast cancer cells, sumithrin increases the expression of a gene that is involved with proliferation of cells in the mammary gland. Sumithrin can also mimic certain activities of the sex hormone estrogen and keep another sex hormone from binding to its normal receptors.
• Thousands of cat poisonings and some dog poisonings have been reported following the use of some sumithrin-containing flea control products [though the Central MA guy told me it's 'well tolerated by mammals'].
• Low concentrations of sumithrin (as low as one part per billion) kill fish and other aquatic animals. Sumithrin is also highly toxic to bees."
I'm not saying spraying is never called for, but do want folks to be aware of what's happening.
Ellen Krueger
3:56 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Thanks for the additional information, Debra. It would have been good to have that in the original article. Knowing where the mosquito was found helps identify where the most precautions should be taken.
Gerri Wills
4:09 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I believe there should have been a paragraph break: EEE was found in one or more mosquitoes in Acton recently (as in the past several days). I think the information regarding 2011 was for reference.
I'm sure the Health Department didn't go to the trouble to send a news release to say nothing was found last year.
As far as spraying goes, a rational discussion would be good. There are obviously trade-offs regarding risk. It would be good to have more quantitative data regarding the toxicity of Sumithrin. I doubt that aerial or truck spraying produces the concentrations that result from setting off one of those flea-control 'bomb's' inside your house.
Leah Ronaldo
7:24 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Drain Your Pools! It is irresponsible not to do so, and is greatens the risk for you and those around you.
Thomas Gertrude
7:48 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Agreed, all acton pool owners please drain your pools.
Holly
7:19 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
We found a dead crow in our yard today and buried it...should it be tested? Who should we call? The police were not helpful.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
8:14 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
If you had taken better care of the crow, as required by PETA, it might not have expired. You could have to report this to the Department of the Interior.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Debra Simes
8:50 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Holly: If you live in Acton, call the Health Department at 978.929.6632; they can either take the report or tell you how best to report it.