EEE Found in Sudbury

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is from the Town of Sudbury.)

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that EEE virus has been detected in one mosquito trap collection from Sudbury. This sample was collected on July 18 and submitted for testing by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The species of mosquito collected was Culiseta melanura. This species is primarily a bird biting mosquito. Sudbury has moved from remote to low risk hazard. The last positive EEE virus positive mosquito samples in Sudbury were collected in August 2009 and September 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 under 15 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. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing.
• 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- 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.

For further information on WNV or EEE, log unto the Massachusetts Department of Public Health web site at www.mass.gov/dph/wnv or the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/index.html If residents have any questions about mosquitoes or how to control them, contact the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project at 781-899-5730 or visit our website at http://sudbury.ma.us/services/health/emmcp/