Press Release from Health Agent

PUBLIC INFORMATION

PRESS RELEASE

September 18, 2018

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported to the Raynham Health Department today that a positive sample for West Nile Virus (WNV) has been identified from mosquitoes in Raynham. The sample was collected from a mosquito trap in the western area of town on September 11, 2018. The mosquito species that contained the WNV was Culiseta melanura. This is the second West Nile Virus positive mosquito found in Raynham this year. While there have been no human or animal cases in Raynham, there has been 13 human and 2 animal confirmed positive WNV cases throughout Massachusetts. As of today, there have been no positive mosquito samples for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). With recent heavy rain and warm/humid weather, mosquito activity will be heightened. Until the first hard frost it is important to always use precautions to avoid mosquito bites including the following:

Apply insect repellent and wear long pants and sleeves when outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 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. Clothing can also help reduce mosquito bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes off your skin.

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.

Mosquito-proof your home by draining standing water and installing or repairing screens. Homeowners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by draining standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and flowerpots, rain gutters and drains, especially after heavy rains. Prevent mosquitoes from entering the home by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

This is a message from the Raynham Health Department. For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases or call the Raynham Board of Health office.

Matthew Tanis

Health Agent

Town of Raynham