 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT The Commissioners of the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project are pleased to submit the following report of our activities during 2005. The Project is a special district created by the State Legislature in 1957, and is now composed of all Plymouth County towns, the City of Brockton, and the Town of Cohasset in Norfolk County. The Project is a regional response to a regional problem, and provides a way of organizing specialized equipment, specially trained employees, and mosquito control professionals into a single agency with a broad geographical area of responsibility. The 2005 season began with a normal water table until record April precipitation produced large numbers of spring and summer brood mosquitoes throughout the County. Efforts were directed at larval mosquitoes starting with the spring brood. Ground and aerial larviciding was accomplished using B.t.i., an environmentally selective bacterial -« agent. Upon emergence of the spring brood of mosquitoes, ultra-low volume adulticiding began. The Project responded to 11.578 requests for service from residents. In response to the elevated threat of mosquito borne diseases in the district, we increased our trapping, aerial and ground larviciding, and adult spray in areas of concern to protect public health. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus was first isolated from Culiseta melanura, a bird biting species, by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in Kingston on July 25,2005. Of the season's total of forty five EEE isolates, twenty eight were from Plymouth County as follows: Abington (9/12), Carver (8/17, 8/29, 9/5), Duxbury (8/5), Halifax (8/22, 9/1, 9/5, 9/7). Hanover(9/7,9/14), Hanson (9/13), Kingston (7/25, 7/27(2), 8/1(2), 8/8, 8/10, 8/22, 9/12. 9/19.9/28),. Lakeville (9/12, 9/19), Pembroke (8/1, 9/9), Rockland (9/7). Four human cases of EEE were confirmed including two fatalities (Halifax and Kingston) and two non-fatal cases (Duxbury and Plymouth). No horses were diagnosed with EEE in Plymouth County. We normally end our spray season on Labor Day. This year, because of increased virus isolations, we extended our residential spray program into October. Town and city based requests for area wide spray continued throughout the district through October 7, 2005. Based on guidelines defined by the "Vector Control Plan to prevent EEE" in Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts will be at a "moderate level of EEE risk" beginning the 2006 season. We are pleased to report that in 2005 there were no human or horse West Nile Virus (WNV) cases in Plymouth County. A total of six birds tested positive for the West Nile Virus in the following five towns East Bridgewater (1), Hanover (1), Marshfield (1), Pembroke (1), West Bridgewater (2). A total of eight isolations of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes were found in the following towns: Abington (9/13(2)), Bridgewater (9/15), Lakeville (9/26), Middleboro (8/29, 9/29) and Norwell (8/23, 9/13). The recurring problem of EEE and WNV continues to ensure cooperation between the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project, local Boards of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In an effort to keep the public informed, EEE and WNV activity updates are regularly posted on Massachusetts Department of Public Health website at www.state.ma.us/dph/wnv/wnv1,htm The figures specific to the Town of Abington are given below. While mosquitoes do not respect town lines the information given below does provide a tally of the activities which have had the greatest impact on the health and comfort of Abington residents. Insecticide Application. 2,304 acres were treated using mounted sprayers for control of adult mosquitos. More than one application was made at the same site if mosquitoes reinvaded the area. The first treatments were made in June and the last in October. To Be Continued |
| Plymouth County Mosquito Control 2005 Annual Report |
| Veterans Memorial |
| Town Library |
Our Town:
| Abington Massachusetts |
| Town Offices |
| Town Hall 781.982.2100 |