The North Andover Board of Health wants to update the residents regarding the status of local mosquitoes and the actions being taken in town and in the region.

North Andover Board of Health has been performing weekly mosquito testing for West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) since April and have not had a positive mosquito pool yet this season.

Positive mosquito pools have been detected in neighboring communities. We have been in constant contact with Mosquito Control and have been discussing proactive and preventative measures in response to the positive tests in the area. Mosquito Control has added supplemental testing traps around the positive pools in the affected communities and performed additional larvaciding and targeted adulticide spraying.

North Andover has scheduled Mosquito Control to perform annual barrier spraying and adulticiding around parks, schools and fields on Tuesday August 27, 2019 at 8:00PM.  Spraying activities will be completed in North Andover by 3:00AM and all fields will be able to be used the following morning.  No special precautions are needed.  If you live adjacent to a playground or field you can close any windows facing those locations.  Rain date will be Wednesday August 28, 2019.  No EEE or WNV mosquitoes have been detected in North Andover and this is a preventative measure to reduce the risk of mosquito borne disease transmission.

As always, the North Andover Board of Health urges all residents to read and follow these important safety tips:

• Avoid Mosquito Bites
• 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 the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.
• Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus 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 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.
• Mosquito-Proof Your Home
• Drain standing water: Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website here.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the EEE virus is a rare cause of brain infections or encephalitis. Very few human cases are reported across the U.S. each year, but EEE can be fatal or leave victims with serious complications and neurological problems.

LIST OF NORTH ANDOVER SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS TO BE TREATED

• High School
• Middle School
• Atkinson School
• Kittredge School
• Franklin School
• Sargent School
• Drummond Field
• Grogan’s Field
• Carl Thomas Playground
• Aplin Playground
• McEvoy Field
• Reynolds Playground
• Gallagher Field
• Cyr Recreation Area
• Foster Farm Fields
• Carter Fields A&B
• Anne Bradstreet ECC
• Old Town Common
• Thomson Elementary