Dear fellow Hanoverians:
This just in from the Board of Health!
* *
*TOWN OF HANOVER*
Board of Health
550 Hanover Street, Suite 17
Hanover, MA 02339
Tel: 781-826-4611
Fax: 781-826-5289
*Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)*
*Frequently Asked Questions*
*Updated July 20, 2012*
As you may be aware, they have found mosquitos that have tested
positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in the towns of
Easton and Carver. While there have been no positive test results in
Hanover, the Board of Health is supplying all residents with the
following information:
*What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?*
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused
by a virus.
*How is the EEE virus spread?*
The virus that causes EEE is spread through the bite of an infected
mosquito. In Massachusetts, the virus is most often identified in
mosquitoes found in and around freshwater, hardwood swamps. More
information about different types of mosquitoes that can spread the
virus can be found on the MDPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph
.
EEE virus particularly infects birds, often with no evidence of
illness in the bird. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite
infected birds. Although humans and several other types of mammals,
particularly horses and llamas, can become infected, they do not
spread disease.
*What are the symptoms of EEE?*
The first symptoms of EEE are fever (often 103º to106ºF), stiff
neck, headache, and lack of energy. These symptoms show up three to
ten days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Inflammation and
swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and
frequent serious complication. The disease gets worse quickly and some
patients may go into coma within a week.
*What is the treatment for EEE?*
There is no treatment for EEE. In Massachusetts, about half of the
people identified with EEE died from the infection. People who survive
this disease will often be permanently disabled. Few people recover
completely.
*What can you do to protect yourself from EEE?*
Since the virus that causes EEE is spread by mosquitoes, here are some
things you can do to reduce your chances of being bitten:
· Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn,
when mosquitoes are most active.
· When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and
socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it
will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
· Use a repellent with *DEET* (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide),
*permethrin, picaridin* (KBR 3023), *IR3535
(*3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid) or *oil of lemon
eucalyptus* [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions
given 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. More information on
choosing and using repellents safely is included in the MDPH Fact
Sheet on Mosquito Repellents which can be viewed online at
http://www.mass.gov/dph
. If you can’t go online, contact the MDPH at (617) 983-6800 for a
hard copy.
· Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your
screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors
and windows.
· Remove areas of standing water around your home. Here are some
suggestions:
ØLook around outside your house for containers and other things that
might collect water and turn them over, regularly empty them, or
dispose of them.
ØDrill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left
outdoors so that water can drain out.
ØClean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may
prevent drainage of rainwater.
ØTurn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
ØChange the water in birdbaths every few days; aerate ornamental
ponds or stock them with fish.
ØKeep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing
water from pool covers.
ØUse landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your
property.
*Is the State considering Aerial Spraying?*
*Yes, but not in Hanover*, the Mass Dept. of Public Health will be
coordinating aerial spraying in the following towns starting Friday
July 20, 2012 and continue for approximately three days thru July 22,
2012. The towns that will conduct aerial spraying are: Acushnet,
Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dighton, East Bridgewater, Easton,
Freetown, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Middleboro, Norton,
Pembroke, Plymouth, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Taunton and West
Bridgewater*. Again Hanover is not being sprayed, but keep in mind,
even in the Towns that are being sprayed, this is not a magic fix and
does not guarantee that all mosquitos will be killed, therefore,
safety precautions should still be adhered to. *
*Where can I get more information?*
· *EEE and personal protection: *MDPH, Division of Epidemiology and
Immunization at 617-983-6800 or online at http://www.mass.gov/dph
. You may also contact your local board of health (listed in the
telephone directory under “government”).
· Mosquito control in your city or town*: Mosquito control in
Massachusetts is conducted through nine mosquito control districts.
The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB) oversee all
nine districts. Contact information for each district can be found
online at http://www.mass.gov/agr/mosquito/districts.htm
. You may also contact the SRMCB within the Massachusetts Department
of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1777 or your local board of
health*.
· *You can also fax your Name, Address and Telephone number to
Plymouth County Mosquito Control at 781-582-1276 and they will
schedule your home for spraying. You can have your home sprayed up to
eight times during the summer months ending on Labor Day.*
· *Health effects of pesticides*: MDPH, Center for Environmental
Healthat 617-624-5757
For more information, please contact Tony Marino, Director of
Community Services for the Town of Hanover at
communityservices@hanover-ma.gov
.
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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