The North Andover Public Health Department announced on 8/31/2018 that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in a mosquito sample collected from North Andover. The sample was collected on August 29, and the results came back positive. The species of mosquito that tested positive for the disease is Culex pipiens and is a type of mosquito that primarily bites birds only and peaks in the late summer.

Northeast Mosquito Control will be performing mosquito spraying on Thursday night, September 6, 2018 from 7:30pm to 12:00am. Mosquito Control will be adulticiding around town and school fields and a small area in the vicinity of Chickering Road, Osgood Street, Pleasant Street and Stevens Street.  Mosquito Control will also be Barrier Spraying the perimeter of town and school fields and playgrounds.

It is recommended that you close the windows on the street side of your house until ½ hour after spraying, and residents and pets should stay inside when spraying activity is occurring in your area.  Air conditioners can remain ON and all fields may be used in the morning. No other precautions are recommended.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.