All through the rainy month of July East Boston residents took to social media to complain about the unbearable number of mosquitos plaguing the neighborhood–especially in the Orient Heights section near Belle Isle Marsh.
Residents reported sending messages to the City’s 311 citizens complaint line, calling the Boston Public Health Commission and elected officials begging for the city to conduct its annual mosquito spraying to help control the population of the biting pests.
One resident, whose kids play ball at Noyes Park, said her children and her children’s teammates as well as parents would be covered in mosquito bites after every game and practice.
“The kids have games three days a week and practices and they are down Noyes almost every night and when I say ‘covered’ they are covered (by mosquito bites). Our children shouldn’t have to suffer. Let’s alleviate the infectious disease carrying animals,” the parent wrote.
Luckily the BPHC finally decided to conduct a spraying operation last night.
“The recent rainfall has resulted in very high numbers of mosquitoes being found in surveillance traps,” the BPHC said in the announcement of spraying in Eastie. “So far this year, mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Jamaica Plain, Brighton and Roxbury. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has raised the risk level for West Nile Virus in Boston to ‘moderate.’”
On Tuesday evening the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project (SCMCP) used a truck mounted sprayer to spray in Eastie neighborhoods located near Orient Heights, including streets in the vicinity of Orient Avenue, Boardman Street, Andrew Road and Horace Street. All spraying happened between dusk and 11:30 pm.
“The mosquito control product being used is Zenivex E4 (EPA Reg No. 2724.807),” said the BPHC. “It is being applied at 1 oz per acre. Zenivex E4 is a non-ester pyrethroid and is classified by the EPA as a reduced risk pesticide. Mosquito control applications of Zenivex E4 do not pose a significant risk to people or their pets due to the low toxicity and the small amount used to control mosquitoes. Zenivex E4 biodegrades rapidly and doesn’t build up in the environment.”
Residents with questions related to the spraying should call the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project (SCMCP) at 781-899-5730.
Each year the BPHC partners with the SCMCP to protect Boston residents from mosquito-borne illnesses and to control the mosquito population in certain areas of Boston. SCMCP collects mosquito samples in traps every week during the summer and fall. Those mosquito samples are tested to see if WNV or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are present. Mosquito control measures are also implemented during the summer and fall months. Wetlands, storm drains and other areas around the city are treated to limit the number of mosquitoes by killing mosquito larvae.
The BPHC said mosquitoes in Boston are most active from dusk to dawn during the months of July to September. However, mosquitoes can spread disease until the first hard frost–as late as November. Mosquito species have different breeding habits, but most want to lay their eggs near water – usually in vegetation or in still water.
To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, BPHC advises residents to limit places around the home where standing water can collect. Residents should turn over unused flowerpots, buckets, wheelbarrows and garbage cans; remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water; dispose of or cover old tires; and cover swimming pools when not in use