2008 Mosquito Program Notice
of activities beginning

MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM

     The mosquito control program includes three activities- larviciding, disease testing and emergency spraying.  Larviciding includes the identification and control of mosquito breeding sites in stagnant waters throughout town.  Typical mosquito breeding sites in Fremont include woodland pools, red maple swamps, cattail marshes, roadside ditches and flooded fields.  Mosquito species that are known vectors of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and/ or West Nile Virus (WNV) are targeted.  Many mosquito breeding sites have been identified in past years and new sites will be documented in 2008.  By year’s end, an aerial GIS map of the entire Town will be completed showing all known mosquito breeding areas.  Despite record snowfall this past winter, we are experiencing very dry conditions at present with unusually low activity in mosquito breeding areas.

     In June we will begin our mosquito surveillance/ testing program. From June 1st until mid October, we will be collecting mosquitoes in traps on a weekly basis.  The mosquitoes will be microscopically identified to species, placed in vials and transported to the state health laboratory in Concord for testing (EEE and WNV).  If any positives are discovered the town will be immediately notified.

     Emergency spraying is a means to protect high priority areas during EEE or WNV activity in birds, mosquitoes or mammals, including humans.  In Fremont, emergency spraying would be completed at the Library, Memorial Field, Ellis School and the Safety Complex.  The decision to complete emergency spraying involves Town officials in consultation with me and State Health Officials.

Michael Morrison, Entomologist - Municipal Pest Mgmt Services, Inc

      HEALTH ALERT

      Those ticks, all kinds, are busy outdoors this summer!  Please check everyone, including pets, when you come inside from being out of the house.  Don’t forget, the deer ticks are very, very small and you really have to hunt for them.  They are the ones that cause Lyme Disease.

     Because we do not have a Public Works Department, it is everyone’s responsibility to pick up trash on the side of the road by their property.  Please help us keep Fremont clean.  A clean town is more likely to be a healthy town.  – Trudie Butler, Health Officer