The New Hampshire Department of Health has detected a confirmed case of EEEV in Kensington, NH. Resulting from this viral detection, the arboviral risk for the municipality of Seabrook will be updated from “moderate” to “high” in accordance with the New Hampshire arboviral illness surveillance, prevention, and response plan. Below are the NH DHHS recommendations for individuals and organizations to follow due to our increased risk level from moderate to high.
On September 15th Northest Vegetation and Mosquito Control sprayed the following areas;
- Senior Centers, 81 Railroad Ave
- Recreation Center
- Transfer Station
- Cemetery (Lafayette & South Mian St)
- Seabrook Elementary and Middle School
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Governor Weare Park
Click HERE to view the map of the effected areas.
Recommended response for State Agencies and Town Officials
Incorporates previous category response, plus:
- Intensify public education on personal protection measures a. Utilize multimedia messages including press releases, local newspaper articles, cable channel interviews, etc.
- Actively seek out high-risk populations (nursing homes, schools, etc.) and educate them on personal protection.
- Issue advisory information on adulticide spraying.
- Consider intensifying larviciding and/or adulticiding control measures as indicated by surveillance.
- DHHS will confer with local health officials to determine if the risk of disease transmission threatens to cause multiple human cases. If surveillance indicates a continuing risk of human disease and potential for an outbreak, intensified ground-based adult mosquito control may be recommended.
Recommend response for the public and individuals in affected areas:
Incorporates previous category response, plus:
- Repair Screens
- Dump standing water weekly
- Wear mosquito repellant when outdoors during peak mosquito hours (from dusk to dawn)
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors during peak mosquito hours (from dusk to dawn)
- Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens when outdoors
- Arrange neighborhood clean-ups to get rid of mosquito breeding sites
- Be aware of stagnant water on property (e.g., unused swimming pools) and consult local health officer
- Clean roof gutters so that rainwater cannot collect in them.
- Do not attempt to drain or alter natural water bodies such as ponds, marshlands, and wetlands as they are regulated under state law and any alterations may require the approval of state and possibly federal agencies.
- Avoid areas with heavy mosquito activity
- Adjust outdoor activity to avoid peak mosquito hours (from dusk to dawn)
- Avoid areas with heavy mosquito activity
- Adjust outdoor activity to avoid peak mosquito hours (from dusk to dawn)
You may contact the Town of Seabrook’s Health Department with any questions at 603.474.3871 or Northeast Vegetation and Mosquito Control at [email protected]
CDC’s About Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Website:
https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/about/index.html
CDC’S Data and Maps for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Website:
https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/data-maps/index.html
NH DHHS most recent press release on Lowering the risk for mosquito-borne illness.
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/news-and-media/nh-dhhs-provides-tips-help-residents-lower-their-risk-mosquito-borne-illness