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Protect yourself and your home from Mosquitoes!

Protect your house from mosquito infestation by cleaning gutters, repairing door and window screens, fill holes, remove toys, buckets, and pots, fix leaky faucets and pipes, cover pools, and change birdbath water.

IMPORTANT!

Six mosquitoes in the town of Provincetown tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) on September 14th. The species of mosquito, Culiseta melanura, is a bird biting mosquito that plays a role in EEE transmission/amplification in the bird population.

The Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project will have crews out in the area on September 22 treating water in swamps and catch basins, as well as any containers holding water. Additional mosquito samples from around the county are in the process of being sampled, with results expected early next week.

Mosquitoes in the towns of Barnstable and Eastham tested positive for West Nile Virus the week of August 28th. Learn more at Mosquitoes Collected in Barnstable County Tested Positive for West Nile Virus  – Barnstable County (capecod.gov).


Mosquitoes spread many diseases. Enjoy Cape Cod without the bites!

  • Stay indoors! It’s best to remain indoors when mosquitoes are most active – which is dusk to dawn.
  • Use insect repellent! Use insect repellents with 20-30% DEET, 10–20% picardin, 10-20% IR3535, or 30-40% oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin and clothes to prevent bites.
  • Wear long clothing! When outside wear long pants, sleeves, shoes, and socks. Apply permethrin to clothes and gear. It lasts through several washes after it is applied. Do not apply permethrin directly to skin. Mosquitoes spread many diseases. Enjoy Cape Cod without the bites!

Protect YOUR HOUSE from INFESTATION!

The most effective way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around homes and neighborhoods is to find and eliminate their breeding sites – standing water. Regardless of weather, there are plenty of potential places in which mosquitoes can develop. A neglected bird bath, swimming pool, or clogged rain gutter can produce hundreds of new mosquitoes in just a few days. Here are effective steps that you can take to minimize mosquito breeding:

  • Clean gutters: keep water running freely.
  • Repair door and window screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
  • Fill holes and keep water from forming puddles.
  • Remove toys, buckets and pots; dump out any water-filled items.
  • Fix leaky faucets and pipes to get rid of dripping water.
  • Cover and protect pools and hot tubs when not in use.
  • Change birdbath water regularly to keep the water clean

Protect Yourself and Your Family from Mosquito Bites

  • Again, it’s important to use mosquito repellent any time you are outdoors. Even being out a short time can be long enough to get a mosquito bite. Make sure to follow directions on the label.
  • Be aware of mosquitoes around you. If mosquitoes are biting you, reapply repellent, or think about going inside.
  • Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning — or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
  • Use mosquito netting on baby carriages or playpens when your baby is outdoors.
  • When weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors.
  • Make sure screens are repaired and are tightly attached to doors and windows.
  • Remove standing water from places like ditches, gutters, old tires, wheel barrows, children’s toys, birdbaths, and wading pools. Mosquitoes can begin to grow in any puddle or standing water that lasts for more than four days, so don’t let water collect around your home.
  • Avoid camping overnight near freshwater swamps to reduce your risk of exposure to mosquitoes that carry the EEE virus. If you do go camping, use a tent with mosquito netting and use appropriate repellents.

If you are BITTEN

  • Wash the bit with soap and water.
  • Apply calamine lotion to help stop the itching.
  • If you get sick after being bitten and suspect a mosquito-borne illness, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!

For the most up-to-date surveillance information, visit:

MA Department of Public Health mosquito borne diseases web page

To find towns affected by EEE, visit:

www.mosquitoresults.com

Massachusetts Department of Public Health tests for EEE and WNV from June to October. Please check back during the testing season to view local risk levels and daily case data.

Massachusetts Arbovirus Update

This information was provided by Fight the Bite – a collaboration between

the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project (Phone: (508) 775-1510) and Barnstable County Government.


Additional Resources: