Last week, the Harvard Press reported that health officials in Massachusetts had identified five human cases of Eastern equine encephalitis and 15 cases of West Nile virus since June. We can hardly keep up with the press releases announcing new cases. As of Wednesday morning, the state has identified seven human cases of EEE (two of which resulted in deaths) and 19 of West Nile virus.
Last week in a presentation to the Board of Selectmen, Harvard Board of Health Chairman Tom Phillipou said it would be “naive” to think mosquitoes bearing those two diseases are not in Harvard. It stands to reason that Phillipou is right. While Harvard does not participate in the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project, and therefore has not been monitored for infected mosquitoes, neighboring communities do. Infected insects have been found in Acton, Boxborough, Devens, Lunenburg, and Leominster. Since it’s likely mosquitoes don’t know, or don’t care, about town boundaries, they’re probably here, too.
What to do about it?
It’s too late for Town Meeting to convene and vote to join the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. Winter frost will take care of the mosquitoes before that. Plus, there’s no guarantee the vote would pass. The $60,000 per year price tag might be too high for some, while others might be concerned about the environmental effects of the chemicals used.
For now, the best defense against mosquitoes in Harvard is education and residents’ taking the preventive measures recommended by the town and the state. The town website has some good information, including the downloadable brochure “Preventing Mosquito Bites.”
Meanwhile, residents should prepare to take on the issue of mosquito spraying and disease prevention at the next Annual Town Meeting, weighing the cost and environmental impact against the serious threat of Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus. The disease-bearing mosquitoes are likely to return next year and the issue is likely to appear on the warrant.
