Since July, fears of EEE have high, however, the rapid increase in the number of West Nile virus infected mosquitoes has raised breeding concerns regarding other pest-borne pestilence.

By Monday 50 pools had tested positive for West Nile and 51 for eastern equine encephalitis as listed by the state Department of Public Health’s (DPH) surveillance site.

Andrews, Superintendent for the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project said while EEE has spread early this year, West Nile virus was exactly on time and ‘building fast’.

Jennifer Manley, DPH spokeswoman also indicated the identification rate of West Nile virus was high this year and we should be concerned about the West Nile virus risk.

Twenty six pools testing positive for the virus last year represented less than 1% of the number tested, while over 2% have been found to be infected, this year.

It was 11 years ago that West Nile virus was first identified in North America i.e. in New York. According to Manley, from 2000 to 2009 Massachusetts saw 63 severe cases of West Nile virus infection. Florence G. Homol, 80, of Fall River was the most recent reported fatality, dying from the virus in 2005.

Southeastern Massachusetts, while proving to be an EEE epicentre, has been relatively lightly affected with West Nile. Of the 50 pools infected with the virus, four are from Bristol and Plymouth counties in New Bedford, Westport, Brockton and Halifax, with six pools in Brookline, eight in Boston and eight in North Andover.

Due to concerns over Freetown and Westport, not far from Fall River’s borders, having an EEE positive and West Nile positive mosquito pool, respectively, Henry Vaillancourt, Fall River’s Director of Health And Human Services said Bristol County Mosquito Control Project would spray around Kennedy Park ahead of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England.

John Smith, Director of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project was similarly on alert, as was Walter Montgomery, with mosquito control officials describing the unseasonably warm weather as ideal for virus amplification.

West Nile is easier to control than EEE and while the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to the West Nile virus, most people develop and an immune response to fight the disease.
You can protect yourself from getting infected by protecting yourself from mosquito bites by following the following suggestions:
· Get rid of all standing water inside and outside your home, as this is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
· Always use mosquito repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) when working outside. Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are some other options, while remembering to use repellents according to label instructions.
· Wear clothing that covers most of your skin, such as long sleeves and long pants.
· Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.