Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE - Friday, June 28, 2019 What’s all the buzz? City Council seeks preemptive strike against mosquitos By Alexis Mikulski ummer’s in full swing. With the warmer weather comes barbeques, swimming and mosquitos. Not only are these insects a pest, but they could possibly be hazardous to your health. So how do you protect yourself from diseases? In 2018, West Nile virus was S confi rmed by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory to have a strong presence in Boston and its surrounding areas. West Nile virus is commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to health offi cials. People who are over the age of 50 are at risk for more severe cases of the disease, and most people do not have any symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they appear in the form of fever and other fl u-like features, according to nurses at Massachusetts General Hospital. However, in rare cases, a more serious illness can occur. Last year in the city of Revere, the mosquito population was at an all-time high. If that is any indication of where this year is headed, city councillors are worried about protecting the safety of Revere community members. “The mosquitos this year are coming out like torpedoes; we need a plan of attack because it’s quite dangerous,” said City Council President Arthur Guinasso. In a motion put forth by Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo, the City Council voted that the Mayor request the Director of Inspectional Services to appear before the City Council to discuss the mosquito plan for this summer. “I received a call and a couple of pictures from these poor kids that have pretty signifi - cant mosquito bites. With all A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE Don’t Forget Dad! OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 8 AM - 8 PM Sun. - Holidays: 8 AM - 6 PM (781) 289-4959 GIFT CARDS! ALL MAJOR BRANDS OF CIGARS * Desktop Humidors * Travel Humidors * Boxes of Cigars * Bundles of Cigars * Singles * Torch Lighters * Zippo Lighters * Cigar Cutters Father’s Day Special Chris Moore & his you & save you money! * VAPES * JUICE * JUULS * BONGS PIPES * GRINDERS * HOOKAHS JUNE SPECIAL Buy any Box of PERDOMO CIGARS at our Reduced Price & receive a FREE PERDOMO Lighter! (Retail value in excess of $25.00) C.B.D. PRODUCTS Creating Better Days * Nature’s Supplement * All Natural * CBD Infused Products * Edibles * Concentrates * Topicals SMOKER’S DELIGHT 15 Churchill Size Cigars including a COHIBA Over 5,000 Units Sold! A BEST BUY! PROUD DAD: Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo is shown with his graduate daughter, Gabriella, daughter Amanda Rotondo and Carolina Sanchez at the recent RHS graduation exercises at Harry Della Russo Stadium. (Advocate photo by Ross Scabin) of the rain we’ve been getting, we are going to have a very tough season for mosquitos,” said Rizzo. “The concern is above and beyond more than just getting a mosquito bite – the diseases that they could possibly be prone to – we certainly do not want anyone to be subjected to West Nile or anything like that,” he said. Some of the most common places for mosquitos to inhabit are wet, marshy areas, and wide open fi elds. With athletics and other outdoor activities taking place throughout Revere in the summer, this can be a cause of concern for many citizens. “I know last year there were a lot of complaints from folks at the soccer games: that mosquitos were out of control. We need to get the Director of Inspectional Services here to have a defi nitive plan to keep all of our fi elds, spectators, kids and parents safe,” said Rizzo. So what are some things you can do at home to take precautions against these pesky bites? First, educate yourself. There are multiple online resources to learn the most eff ective ways to prevent possible mosquito bites and infection. The website www.nemassmosquito.org is an accessible resource to read how to combat these bugs. Next, apply insect repellent with DEET, to create a barrier around yourself that mosquitos will be prone to stay away from. DEET can be harmful to infants and children under two months of age, so make sure to fi nd an alternative spray if you have little ones at home. Lastly, be conscious and aware of times when mosquitos are most active. Dawn to dusk, according to the Massachusetts Health Department, are peak biting hours for mosquitos. If you do fi nd yourself outside during these hours, try to wear long sleeved shirts, pants and socks. Even with mosquitos buzzing around, you can still have a safe and fun summer. With the appropriate precautions, you can avoid these tiny bites. RHS Graduation Moment
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