It has been a challenging summer thus far, to say the least. Our anxieties are high and the COVID-19 Pandemic is just one of the many reasons we are all feeling a bit overwhelmed. However, we must stay vigilant as there is one seasonal pest in our backyards that does not care about the Coronavirus, our familiar foe, the mosquito. As we spend more and more time at home, enjoying our yards and local recreational opportunities we are exposing ourselves, our families and friends to mosquito-borne illnesses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis aka EEE, has just been found in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The disease can cause brain damage among other neurological issues and kills over a third of the people who get it. Last year in Massachusetts there were 12 confirmed cases and 6 deaths, which is the most cases in over 70 years. Although it has been found in mosquitoes, no person or animal has tested positive for EEE thus far.
2020 Massachusetts EEE Risk Map:
According to WBUR Experts say that’s reason enough to believe that the disease will return this season, too.
“The virus, when it emerges newly in a particular year like last year, seems to return the next year with at least equal or even higher numbers,” said Dr. Asim Ahmed, an infectious disease doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital who also studies EEE.
EEE affects people of all ages and should be taken seriously. Last year state officials recommended that people avoid going outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Many towns participate in mosquito spraying programs that target large areas of a town with chemicals that have questionable side effects. Although this is a preventative measure to eliminate mosquito populations, there are other concerns we have here at Pure Solutions about the spraying of chemicals across our state. Although the CDC states the health concerns are minimal, the effects on the surrounding environment and wildlife are not well known or understood.
“The Anvil and other similar pesticides are toxic to land-dwelling and water-dwelling invertebrates (e.g., dragonflies, beetles) and to fish. There is less risk to fish in larger ponds than in smaller ones and the risks to large natural water bodies are minimal. However, people may want to cover a small ornamental fish pond in their yard during the night of spraying.” (mass.gov)
This is why at Pure Solutions we offer an all-natural, organic tick and mosquito spray control that eliminates mosquito populations from around your yard, home, business, or municipality WITHOUT the use of harsh toxic chemicals. Our recurring mosquito control service creates a safer environment for you and your loved ones. For over 10 years our Progaea™ Organic Mosquito Control Solutions have been tested, proven and embraced by customers throughout New England.
- Click here to learn more about Massachusetts and the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEE).
- You can access more information on EEE from Massachusetts public health officials here.
If you would like to get a free quote today please click here (no site visit required).
This post is sponsored by Pure Solutions