Don Black, Chairperson of the Parks Commission, confirmed that the commission had forwarded the Board of Health warning to all groups that use town fields. He wrote in an e-mail: "... that this was a recommendation, not a mandate. It does appear that they are following along with the PSM recommendation."
Groton Board of Health urges avoiding outdoor activities after dark to avoid mosquitoes
The phone call and a press release issued by the town state that “Due to the increased risk of mosquito borne illnesses… the Board recommends curtailing all outdoor activities from 6:00 p.m. until dawn. Protect yourself and your family from mosquito borne illnesses by avoiding going outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. You can also protect yourself by wearing long pants and sleeves and insect repellant. Make sure your doors and windows have screens.”
The recommendation stays in effect until the weather changes and there is at least one hard freeze. Historically, the date of first frost in Groton is October 1-10, but a simple frost doesn’t equate to a hard freeze.
“We’re being proactive because all the towns around us that are part of Mass Mosquito (Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project) are reporting positives for West Nile Virus. Westford, Devens, Chelmsford…. so we’re being proactive. We have to assume we have some positives too,” Dr. Susan Horowitz, Chairperson of the BoH, said. But the town is not planning on spraying for mosquitoes, nor is the Board of Health reconsidering its decision to join the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project.
e
Westford began spraying early in August and was followed by Chelmsford a week or so later.
“It’s our opinion that if you look at all the town that have reported West Nile or EEE, they’ve been spraying for years,” she said. “And some of the towns that are doing aerial spraying are turning up more positives within a couple days of spraying. The Board of Health has not supported it in the past for economic and efficacy issues,” she said, adding “But anyone is welcome to create a citizen’s petition for town meeting to join Mass Mosquito.” Membership in the central Massachusetts spraying group costs about $76,000 per year.
Horowitz made several points related to why the Groton Board of Health has taken a position against annual spraying:
- Groton has intentionally not joined the state-sponsored spraying network because of its relatively high cost and questionable effectiveness.
- Vehicle-based mobile spraying only carries about 50 feet from the road, and is generally considered ineffective in environments like Groton, where there are numerous ponds, creeks, and other water sources — mosquito breeding area — much further from the roads.
- If mosquitoes with West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) something are identified in an area, the state can provide helicopter spraying which is much more effective.
Horowitz said that “If the state thinks there is an issue, they will come in and check for mosquitoes, but they’re not doing that yet.” If that happens, the state may impose helicopter spraying on the town.
The Board of Health has also posted warning notices along the Nashua River Rail Trail and been in contact with both the town’s private and public school systems, and the Parks Commission, urging them to reschedule evening sporting events. The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District sent an e-mail to parents including the line: “In accordance with the wishes of the local health authority, all outdoor school department activity in the regional district will end at 6:00 pm until further notice.”
Horowitz urged people looking for more information on the mosquito born illnesses to, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at www.mass.gov/dph . A shorter informational brochure from the Department of Public Health is available on the Town of Groton website at http://www.townofgroton.org/Portals/0/TownOfGroton/BCOs/Board%20of%20Health/Documents/Preventing%20Mosquito%20Bites.pdf
Dr. Horowitz is misinformed. Mosquito control today mainly comprises (>70-80% of all activity) larviciding and education. Mosquito control today prevents mosquitoes from emerging by attacking their breeding sites with Bti (a bacterium that selectively kills mosquitoes and blackflies) and growth regulators (“mosquito dunks”) and educating people about not promoting breeding around their homes. If a resident of a member town has a mosquito nuisance, they can ask for ground spraying (for example, the day or two before a barbeque party in the backyard). There is no set schedule of spraying. Mosquito control also engages in surveillance (trapping mosquitoes and having them tested for virus) and will react to signs of risk by selective spraying of areas yielding positive mosquitoes. Contrary to her assertions, ponds and creeks are not mosquito breeding sites, at least those that have some degree of ecological complexity (some natural predators). One of the main nuisance and public health breeding sites are around homes: uncleaned gutters, unused kiddie pools, cans, tires. That is why when spray is applied it is from the ground directed at yards; spray should be targeted at those mosquitoes that actually will pose a risk to residents.
The “state” will not bring the helicopters if there is critical risk to your town. If there was critical risk for EEE in a large area, such as with the Hockomock swamp area in SE Mass, an aerial spray is one of the options for preventing this devastating infection. But an isolated town with risk is on its own unless they are a member of one of the 9 regional mosquito control projects.
Education is our most important tool. Clean up around your yards. Get rid of old tires and other water containers around yards. Use repellent (DEET based) when outdoors (also protects against ticks, which will be back in force starting in mid October), with long sleeves, trousers, and socks if you can.
Sam Telford ScD
Professor of Infectious Diseases
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
and
Commissioner, Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project
Hello, and thanks for your input. Anyway the info i have is from the last time mass mosquito was at a meeting with the board of health, we will be setting up a public hearing with them by the end of the year if possible, after we discuss it at our next meeting oct.1 the info you provided is certainly different than we have heard before.i have used bet on my own property and have some question ,reservation about it but that is for a different discussion. susan horowitz vmd chair groton boh