MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified the seventh batch of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Manchester this season, making it the fifth positive detection in the last week. The City of Manchester Health Department announced today that spraying to control adult mosquitoes will take place Tuesday August 28, 2018 from 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. If weather conditions are not acceptable on August 28, 2018, spraying will take place on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at the same time.
According to Tim Soucy, Public Health Director, “The Manchester Health Department continues to identify mosquitoes which have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This raises the risk level to “high” as determined by the NH Department of Health and Human Services’ State Arboviral Illness Surveillance, Prevention, and Response Plan, indicating that there is sustained or increasing WNV activity in mosquitoes.
With the commencement of fall sports leagues, use of sports fields and some parks has increased during the evening hours, when people are more apt to be bitten by mosquitoes. We want to be proactive in protecting the public health of the community. In addition to this action, residents must continue to protect themselves by using of appropriate insect repellent, wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts at dawn and dusk, and eliminating mosquito breeding areas, as we anticipate finding additional positive mosquitoes over the next two months
Spraying may be done in the following locations:
- Gossler / Parkside School;
- Parker Varney School;
- Southside Middle School;
- West Memorial Field;
- Highland Goffs Falls School;
- Green Acres / McLaughlin Schools;
- Jewett Street School;
- McDonough School;
- Hillside School;
- Memorial High School;
- Stark Park;
- Livingston Park;
- Rock Rimmon Park;
- Derryfield Park;
- Youngsville Park;
- Padden Field / Stevens Pond Park;
- Derryfield Country Club;
- Raco Theodore Park;
- Piscataqoug River Park;
- Wolfe Park;
- Basquil-Sheehan Park;
- Prout Park; Stevens Park;
- Brown Mitchell Park;
- St. Anthony Park;
- Precourt Park;
- Goffs Falls Park;
- Gill Stadium Complex;
- Singer / Merrimack River Park;
- Clement Lemire Athletic Complex.
Dragon Mosquito Control Inc., Brentwood, will carry out the mosquito control program using backpack sprayers and/or a truck mounted sprayer on City owned property only. No city-wide road or aerial spraying is to be conducted.
WNV is transmitted from the bite of an infected mosquito. Humans who become infected with WNV may have no symptoms, or mild, flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. If illness does occur, symptoms will appear within 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. A very small percentage of individuals infected with WNV can go on to develop more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis. If you or someone you know is experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and headache, they should contact their local medical provider.
Residents may call the Manchester Health Department at 624-6466 or visit the City’s website at www.manchesternh.gov for more information regarding spray dates and times, location, insecticides, precautions and other concerns. Additionally, individuals with questions about mosquito-borne disease can call the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496. A Fact Sheet on West Nile Virus is available on the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.
