THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 16, 2024 Page 7 West Nile virus identifi ed in second Saugus mosquito sample (Editor’s Note: The following info was submitted by Mike Gaffney, Media Website Content Manager for the Town of Saugus.) T he Saugus Board of Health has received notifi cation from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) that its Public Health Laboratory confi rmed West Nile virus (WNV) was found this week in a mammal biting mosquito in Saugus. This is the second notifi cation of WNV present in mosquitoes in our community. Need to know Stay vigilant to keep your families safe. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as rural areas. We expect to next hear from MDPH in a week if there are further fi ndings and will notify Saugus residents immediately of any updates. The risk of WNV is present until the fi rst frost of the year. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Today (August 9, 2024), the Massachusetts Arbovirus Update website https://www.mass. gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update states: Saugus WNV Risk Level: Low What it Means (WNV Risk Levels): Infection with WNV is unlikely WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF: STAY SAFE: As we shared last week (https://www.saugus-ma. gov/home/news/west-nile-virus-confi rmed-mosquito-sample-saugus), the Town encourages all residents to follow this advice from MDPH: Avoid mosquito bites Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535® or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane 3, 8-diol [PMD]) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin. • Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin. • Be aware of peak mosquito hours – the hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/ or wearing repellent. Mosquito-proof your home • Drain standing water – many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused fl owerpots and wading pools and change water in bird baths frequently. • Install or repair screens - some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly fi tting screens on all your windows and doors. Ballroom and Latin Dance Classes Children’s classes—ages 4 and up Beginner Classes from September to June Competitive training with some of the top teachers of the world. Champions Dance Sport Club … where sport and art come together ... 165 Chelsea Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: 781-219-7273 Web site: championsdancesportclub.com E-mail: champions_dance_sport_club@yahoo.com RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM Tony Bartolo, Owner Email: Tonys9942@aol.com
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