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Once again, New Hampshire led the nation with human Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) activity. In 2007, there were three human cases, one horse, one alpaca and six mosquito pools testing positive for EEE. The human cases occurred in the Towns of Newton, Newfields and Hampton. Kensington had the horse case while Raymond had an alpaca. The six mosquito pools were found in Newton (2), Brentwood (2), Kingston (1) and Fremont (1). Mosquitoes collected in Plaistow were sorted by species and sent to the State Lab in Concord where they were tested for diseases. None
tested positive. There was no EEE or West Nile Virus activity in Plaistow during the 2007 mosquito season. This may be due in part to the dry summer conditions leaving many sites lacking water contributing to low mosquito populations.
The proposed 2008 Mosquito Control plan for Plaistow includes trapping mosquitoes for disease testing, sampling wetlands for larval mosquito activity, larviciding where mosquito larvae are found, and emergency spraying when a public health threat exists. The control program begins in April when mosquito larvae are located in stagnant water such as swamps, ditches, and woodland pools. Trapping adult mosquitoes for disease testing begins in June. The mosquito control program ends in late September or early October when temperatures drop and daylight diminishes.
Homeowners can reduce the number of mosquitoes in their yards by emptying any outdoor containers that hold standing water such as buckets, trash barrels, and boats. Tires collect enough water for mosquitoes to survive. It is also a good idea to change the water in bird baths every two or three days.
If you do not want your property treated for mosquitoes, then a written request is needed. Please send a letter to Dragon Mosquito Control, P.O. Box 46, Stratham, NH 03885. Be sure to include your name, physical address, phone number, and a description of your property with boundaries. Otherwise, your property may be treated. Our phone number is 964-8400. You may call our office for assistance regarding mosquitoes, the insecticides we use, spray dates, or questions about EEE or West Nile Virus.
For more information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus, visit the NH Department of Health and Human Services online at www.dhhs.state.nh.us or the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah MacGregot
President
Dragon Mosquito Control, Inc.
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