Concord, NH – Today the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is placing additional towns on the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) public health threat list. This threat declaration allows for the possibility of providing assistance for threat mitigation to the included towns. The towns added to the list include: Allenstown, Barrington, Brentwood, Bow, Chichester, Concord, Danville, Dover, Dunbarton, Durham, East Kingston, Epping, Epsom, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Hopkinton, Hudson, Kensington, Kingston, Lee, Litchfield, Madbury, Merrimack, Nashua, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Northwood, Nottingham, Pelham, Pembroke, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Rye, Seabrook, South Hampton, and Stratham. The previously declared towns under the August declaration are Atkinson, Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Chester, Deerfield, Derry, Goffstown, Hampstead, Hooksett, Londonderry, Manchester, Raymond, Salem, Sandown, and Windham.
DHHS is also announcing that a horse in Bow and a llama in Candia have both tested positive for EEE. These are in addition to the alpaca from Candia and 23 EEE positive mosquito pools. There have been no positive test results for West Nile virus (WMV) this season. So far this season the State Public Health Lab has tested 2,294 mosquito pools, 5 animals, and 66 human specimens from across the State for EEE and WNV.
The public health threat declaration allows for expedited permitting for mosquito control and allows the State to reimburse cities and towns for up to 25% of their costs associated with mosquito control and abatement if local communities have an approved mosquito control plan and the State determines that there is a threat to residents from mosquito-borne illnesses.
"In the last couple of weeks there has been an increase of EEE activity in the State so we are taking steps to help mitigate the threat," said Dr. Jose Montero, Public Health Director at DHHS. "People need to remember though that the most important steps to take are personal protective measures including using insect repellent, avoiding being outside when mosquitoes are biting, wearing long sleeves and pants, and eliminating standing water on your property."
Call the DHHS information line for EEE/West Nile virus questions at 1-866-273-6453 or visit the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov.
Prevention Guidelines for West Nile Virus and
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services
1. Eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding locations around your property. Please do not attempt to drain or alter natural waterbodies for mosquito control, since the management of ponds and wetlands is regulated by the Department of Environmental Services and any planned alterations will require a permit before work may begin. In warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days!
Remove old tires from your property.
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or other containers. Don't overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside.
Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered and keep covers free of standing water.
Aerate garden ponds or stock them with fish.
Turn over wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.
Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.
2. Be aware of where mosquitoes live and breed and keep them from entering your home.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Weeds, tall grass, and bushes provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes, including several species commonly associated with West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Mosquitoes can enter homes through unscreened windows or doors or broken screens. Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or holes.
Resting mosquitoes can often be flushed from indoor resting sites by using sweeping motions under beds, behind bedside tables etc. and once in flight, exterminated prior to sleeping at night.
3. Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.
Consider the use of an effective insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. A repellent containing 30% or less DEET (N,N-diethyl-methyl-meta-toluamide) for children and adults. Use DEET according to the manufacturer's directions. Children should not apply DEET to themselves. Repellents that contain Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 have also been determined to be effective.
Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.
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