Politics & Government

Sullivan: Spraying for EEE in Medfield Now Would be Ineffective

Medfield Town Administrator Michael Sullivan e-mailed Medfield Board of Selectmen chair, Osler Peterson, Monday to share information about spraying the town for mosquitoes carrying EEE and the probability of the virus being found here.

The Town of Medfield is considered a low-risk area for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus carried by mosquitoes, according to the Norfolk County Mosquito Control.

“I did speak at length Thursday night with John Smith, who is head of Norfolk 
County Mosquito Control,” Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said in an e-mail to Medfield Board of Selectmen chair Osler Peterson. The e-mail was published on Peterson’s blog, Medfield 02052. “He advised me that Medfield is considered at low risk for EEE or Nile virus, on the state Department of Health website map.”

, alerting Medfield officials to look into ways to protect the town from the virus. Sherborn elected to spray areas of town after learning of the virus, but Sullivan was told spraying would be ineffective in Medfield.

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“[Smith] told me that although they could spray, it wouldn’t do any good this time of year as the nights are too cool, so the spraying wouldn’t be effective,” Sullivan said.

The mosquito that tested positive in Sherborn, according to Sullivan’s e-mail, was a type of mosquito that “bites birds, not humans” and when Norfolk County does its weekly testing, it will “sample for the type of mosquito that bites humans.”

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Sullivan said the nearest place to Medfield that has tested positive for the type of mosquito that infects humans was in Sharon.

“[Norfolk County Mosquito Control is] closely monitoring the situation and will advise our Board of Health of any change in test results,” Sullivan said.

Smith offered Sullivan “the most effective protective measures” to take to prevent infection.

“Wear long sleeve shirts and pants,” Sullivan said. “Put insecticides on exposed areas and to the extent possible, avoid going out in heavily wooded areas from dusk to dawn.”

While Medfield is considered a low-risk area for infection, Smith told Sullivan the reason for the increase in the number of mosquitoes found in the area recently has to do with the Charles River.

“[The reason] is the increase in the water levels in the Charles River caused by the heavy rains from Tropical Storm Irene,” Sullivan said. “The Charles River is slow to rise and slow to fall; so the high water levels will continue for some time. Over the years, the Norfolk County Mosquito Control has been very effective in monitoring mosquito populations and in preventing the spread of disease. I think the best course of action at this time is to follow their recommendations.”


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