Post by ncboman on Jul 23, 2006 23:54:02 GMT -5
EEE Detected In Mosquitoes In Bay State
Samples Collected In Carver
BOSTON -- Eastern equine encephalitis virus has been detected for the first time this year in mosquitoes in Carver, the Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.
The mosquito sample was collected on Monday. The virus was detected in a species of mosquitoes called culiseta melanura, which officials said prefers to bite birds and not usually humans or horses.
"You are not going to get rid of the mosquitoes, so put on a little bug spray and go outside. You try and stay out of the shade, stay in the sun and put on some sunscreen. It's not going to keep us inside," resident Mary Manning said.
State health officials were concerned because of how early EEE was detected in the season.
"We are more worried because that gives the mosquitoes and the birds in whom the virus reproduces more time for human exposures," Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Al DeMaria said.
To reduce risks of diseases spread by mosquitoes, residents were urged to drain standing water, avoid outdoor activity from dusk to dawn and use insect repellent that contains DEET.
"This disease does not happen very often, but when it does happen, the consequences can be tragic with human infection. EEE is a severe infection in almost every case. There are fewer infections with West Nile virus, but those infections tend to be more severe," DeMaria said.
Last year, positive EEE mosquito samples were collected from 21 towns in six counties and there were four human cases of EEE, with two deaths. A 5-year-old girl from Halifax and an 83-year-old man from Kingston died..
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Samples Collected In Carver
BOSTON -- Eastern equine encephalitis virus has been detected for the first time this year in mosquitoes in Carver, the Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.
The mosquito sample was collected on Monday. The virus was detected in a species of mosquitoes called culiseta melanura, which officials said prefers to bite birds and not usually humans or horses.
"You are not going to get rid of the mosquitoes, so put on a little bug spray and go outside. You try and stay out of the shade, stay in the sun and put on some sunscreen. It's not going to keep us inside," resident Mary Manning said.
State health officials were concerned because of how early EEE was detected in the season.
"We are more worried because that gives the mosquitoes and the birds in whom the virus reproduces more time for human exposures," Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Al DeMaria said.
To reduce risks of diseases spread by mosquitoes, residents were urged to drain standing water, avoid outdoor activity from dusk to dawn and use insect repellent that contains DEET.
"This disease does not happen very often, but when it does happen, the consequences can be tragic with human infection. EEE is a severe infection in almost every case. There are fewer infections with West Nile virus, but those infections tend to be more severe," DeMaria said.
Last year, positive EEE mosquito samples were collected from 21 towns in six counties and there were four human cases of EEE, with two deaths. A 5-year-old girl from Halifax and an 83-year-old man from Kingston died..
. page
the way those bugs were i thought for sure id be losing some arrows, but i got lucky. i really want to get my average up to around 270. 