Senator Brian Joyce would like to remind everyone that it is currently mosquito season and that last year the Commonwealth declared a public health emergency for the first time in 16 years due to the high concentration of mosquitoes in the area infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).  

“These diseases are serious and sometimes fatal, especially for persons over the age of 50,” said Senator Joyce. “I urge everyone to take every possible precaution to prevent mosquito bites.” 

Here are some tips that have proven effective in preventing mosquito bites:

• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants outdoors
• Use mosquito repellents
• Remove standing water from around your home
• Avoid camping overnight near freshwater
• Use mosquito netting on tents, baby carriages, and playpens when outdoors
• Repair all screens and ensure that they are tightly attached to doors
• Avoid applying repellents containing DEET to broken skin
• Do not apply DEET to children 2 months or younger and avoid using concentrations higher than 30% on children and adults

In 2006, several incidents of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus were reported in the Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol County area:

• 7 cases of EEE and 1 case of WNV were reported in Easton
• 2 cases of EEE were reported in Canton
• 1 case of EEE was reported in Randolph and East Bridgewater
• 1 case of WNV was reported in Sharon

For more information regarding mosquito control please contact the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board at (617) 626-1777 or visit their web site at www.mass.gov/agr/mosquito/index.htm.