From Press Release Materials
Both Fairhaven and Acushnet have issued warnings about West Nile Virus, a mosquito borne disease.
The Town of Acushnet announced that it is at “moderate risk” for WNV, but gave no indication of any cases found in the town.
In Fairhaven, however, the Department of Public Health announced that WNV was detected in a mosquito collected from the town. The town offered the following advice.
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.
While Fairhaven continues to work closely with the MDPH and Bristol County Mosquito Control, locally we are placing larvicide in all catchbasins in town, providing educational information on the town website and facebook page and assisting homeowners who wish their properties to be included in mosquito spraying done by Bristol County Mosquito Control.
Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.
Click here to download the entire 7/27/17 issue:07-27-17 HoseDown
Click here to download Editor Beth David’s letter to the Selectboard: NewspapersInLobbyLetter
