Mosquito With EEE Found in North Reading
A mosquito with the EEE virus was found on Maple Road.
According to North Reading Health Agent Martin Fair, a mosquito with the EEE virus was found on Maple Road in North Reading.
Mosquitoes caught in a trap on Maple Road earlier in the week were tested, and one was confirmed to have the EEE virus. The infected mosquito was a Culiseta melanura, a bird biting mosquito, Fair said.
"The chances of someone getting EEE went from non-existent to remote,” Fair said.
Certain areas of town including Maple Road, the Eisenhaure pond area, Central, North and Haverhill Streets were sprayed with pesticide Thursday night, according to Fair.
There was also a mosquito trap on Southwick Road, but the mosquitoes trapped and tested were not infected.
Fair said he would like to "stress personal protection," and that the worst time for mosquitoes is from dusk until dawn. If you have to be outside after sunset, wear long pants and long sleeves, use insect repellent and make sure your house is mosquito proof, Fair said.
The first symptoms of EEE are fever, headache and fatigue and are noticeable three to 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Encephalitis, inflammation and swelling of the brain, is a dangerous and serious complication.
Earlier in the month, mosquitoes with the EEE virus were detected in Reading. The state's first human case of EEE was confirmed in the MetroWest.
Maryann Murray
10:56 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Why can't they just spray for mosquitos and ticks in the whole town each year?
mike
9:34 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I own a company that does mosquito and tick spraying for home owners on the north shore. I dont work for the state. When the state uses a contact insecticide at night it doesnt do anything for the current larvae hatch. So the state is dropping the population but it is a short term solution and only where they are spraying. Larvacide applications need to be done as well IMO. Daily I am spraying property for ticks and mosquitoes, daily I see standing water with larvae in it, tires, buckets, tarps, water gardens, even clogged gutters. If you can help prevent breeding areas on your own property you can make a huge impact on the population.
Maryann, If the state is using truck driven thermal foggers the insecticide floats in the air so it wont kill ticks. Most likely the insecticide isnt strong enough to kill ticks on the ground with enough active ingredient once it settles out. For more information on how to protect yourself from ticks and other FAQ's on ticks and info on how to protect yourself check out http://tickspraying.com
White Tundra
11:40 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
They aren't spraying pesticides Mike...it's something much more sinister!!! They have to raise the hoopla that "our children" will be sick and die and then everyone reacts and says ok. I don't believe anything that tv says about this EEE virus...where did this come from exactly? Haven't heard of this being in my backyard since the day I was born. And where exactly are they obtaining the pesticide to spray at our children???