Town of Middleborough Reminds Residents of Tick and Mosquito Bite Prevention Tips

MIDDLEBOROUGH –  As the warmer weather sets in, Town Manager Robert Nunes wishes to remind Middleborough residents of important safety tips to avoid mosquito and tick bites. 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, mosquito bites in the state typically result in skin irritation and itching. However, serious viruses including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are also spread by mosquitoes in rare instances.

The DPH reports that since EEE was first detected in the state in 1938, there have been approximately 110 cases and the most recent outbreak began in 2019. There have been six deaths associated with that outbreak. 

Further, residents are reminded to take care to prevent tick bites, as some ticks may carry diseases including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi and Powassan virus. The majority of tick-borne diseases are contracted in June through August, according to the DPH. 

“During the summer months, mosquitos can be quite the nuisance especially for those living near any source of sitting, stagnant water,” Town Manager Nunes said. “We advise residents to always use insect repellent when outdoors and to wear layers when possible to prevent mosquito bites from occurring.”

The following streets in Middleborough will be sprayed today, June 17, for mosquitos: Anderson Avenue, Cherry Street, Chestnut Street, Coombs Street, Cushman Street, E Main Street, Fuller Street, Heidi Lane, Nicholas Way, Old Center Street, Pearl Street, Rivers Edge Drive, Tispaquin Street, Twin Ponds Drive, Village Squire Crossing, W Grove Street, Wareham Street, Wildflower Lane, Wood Street and Woodlawn Street.

Other streets throughout the Town of Middleborough have been previously sprayed this year and additional streets will be sprayed in the future.

The Town of Middleborough wishes to share the following tips from the CDC, which can be used to prevent both mosquito and tick bites:

• Utilize insect repellents that are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and have one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed and follow instructions outlined on the label of the product you are using. 
• Apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Do not apply insect repellent on the skin beneath clothing. 
• Parents, guardians and caregivers of babies and children are advised:
  • Dress children in long layers to cover their arms and legs.
  • Use mosquito netting to cover strollers and baby carriers outdoors.
  • Remember, when using insect repellent on a child, follow instructions on the label and never use products that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children under 3-years-old. 
  • NEVER apply insect repellent on a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts or irritated skin. 
  • To apply insect repellent to a child’s face, carefully spray it onto your hands and apply it to the skin.

• Consider buying permethrin-treated clothing and gear, or using permethrin to treat your clothing and gear.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and pants. 

Residents are also advised to prepare their homes and properties to avoid mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the area, and to prevent insects from getting indoors. This can be done by maintaining screens and doors properly and repairing any holes, utilizing air conditioning where possible, and regularly checking your property for standing water and clearing it out. Mosquitos are known to lay their eggs in and around water. 

The Town of Middleborough also wishes to share the following tips for tick bite prevention specifically from the CDC:

• Know where you may come into contact with ticks so that you can be vigilant and check your skin afterward. Ticks live in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas and can also be found on animals. You can get a tick walking your dog, camping, gardening, hunting, in your neighborhood or in your backyard.
• Walk in the center of trails where possible and avoid wooded areas with high grass and litter.
• Check your clothing and skin for ticks after being outside. When checking your body, be sure to look for ticks in the following areas:
  • Under the arms
  • In and around the ears
  • Inside the belly button
  • Back of the knees
  • In and around hair
  • Between the legs
  • Around the waist
• To kill ticks that may be on clothing, tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes. If the clothes need to be washed first, it is recommended they be washed with hot water. 
• After being outdoors, examine gear and pets for ticks. 
• Residents are advised to shower within two hours of being outdoors.

For more tick bite prevention tips from the CDC click here and for more mosquito bite prevention tips click here. 

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