LYNNFIELD — The town has been informed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) that a West Nile Virus positive mosquito was detected in a recent sample.
Health Director Coral Hope urged all residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin said this was just one occurrence and that the discovery of the West Nile Virus during the summertime is not unusual.
“It’s tough to say that, but everyone should know that even if it hasn’t been detected in your town, it will be in the next town, so it should be expected,” he said. “People should know to always take precautions like they would for ticks and lyme disease if they have been in the woods. People should always presume there is a strong likelihood of the virus showing up in your town, so they just need to use common sense and take precautions.”
Curtin said the notice from the Health Department has been posted on the town’s website and on the School Department and Recreation Department pages as well as on the town’s Facebook feed.
In the notice, Hope outlined the precautionary measures residents need to take that will help protect them from the virus. Residents should remain inside from dusk until dawn as much as possible as “mosquitoes are most active at these times.” People should dress in long sleeves and pants to reduce the chances of mosquito bites and use mosquito repellent which contains DEET, as this is most effective. Hope also advised residents to examine their yards for standing water and also check flower pots and clogged rain gutters, “as these are mosquito-breeding sites.”
The notice went on to say that the Mosquito Control District provides vital work in the community by conducting routine surveillance for viruses, as well as preventative, and mitigating services.
Recreation Director Julie Mallett said she posted the notice on Rec’s Facebook page and emailed everyone who has signed up for programs early Friday morning.
“We just wanted to make sure that as many people as possible were informed and get the word out as quickly as possible,” Mallett said. “We have 600 kids in just our Big Rec and Little Rec programs alone and many more when you add in the field trips, the basketball league and the lacrosse program. We’re lucky in that most of our programs are during the day and not at night, but it was still important to let everyone know.”
The notice also stated that West Nile Virus has been endemic to Massachusetts for almost 20 years, and that the MADPH has advised that areas of Massachusetts are at increased risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) as well.
“West Nile Virus is a relatively common thing in this area compared to EEE, which is far more serious,” said Curtin. “But we are always making sure the public knows it’s [West Nile] out there as soon as it is detected.”
For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases or contact Hope at 781-334-9481.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
