09/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/19/2024 09:37
September 18, 2024
For more information contact: Hillary Peterson at: [email protected]
Dear IPM Coordinators,
We are writing today in partnership with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), to bring to your attention that Maine is currently experiencing significantly elevated risks of mosquito-borne illness. We are strongly advising that precautions be taken to mitigate that risk.
In recent weeks, the Maine CDC has reported:
Presence of these viruses in animals indicates that mosquitos in certain regions of our state do carry the viruses and therefore pose a risk to humans.
Maine CDC has identified the following counties as being high risk: Cumberland, Kennebec, Penobscot, Somerset, and Waldo counties. All other counties are at an elevated risk at this time. All three of these viruses are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and usually start with flu-like symptoms in humans. Severe symptoms can include brain swelling (encephalitis) and spinal cord inflammation (meningitis).
EEE is a deadly virus that has an approximate mortality rate of 30 percent for those who develop severe disease and, if survived, often has serious, lifelong neurological impacts. West Nile Virus causes serious, sometimes fatal, illness in approximately one out of 150 people. For survivors, recovery may take several weeks to months, and some will have lifelong impacts. If you experience flu-like symptoms, severe headache, behavior changes, or serious drowsiness, call a health care provider, especially if a COVID-19 test is negative.
Prevention strategies are critical to keep students, staff, and families safe when participating in outdoor activities, including recess, games, practices, spectator sports, outdoor classes and field trips.
The risk for getting a mosquito-borne disease is highest from dusk to dawn and when temperatures are above 50F (especially above 60F), since this is when mosquitoes are most active. Risk from mosquito bites is expected to continue until two hard frosts kill the mosquitoes this fall/winter. The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent mosquito bites.
Schools can take and/or encourage the following actions to reduce the existing risk:
As an IPM Coordinator: Expect folks to be reaching out to you as the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) coordinator about strategies to improve safety of school grounds and reviewing your IPM policy. Maine's School IPM Program is expected to help identify strategies schools can use to minimize mosquito-borne disease risk.
Schools in counties (Cumberland, Kennebec, Penobscot, Somerset, and Waldo) with detected mosquito-borne disease activity may also want to consider taking additional precautions around outdoor activities, such as:
Resources Available
The Maine DOE, the Maine CDC, and DACF will continue to monitor the situation and appreciate your help to keep the people of Maine safe.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions:
Hillary Peterson, Ph.D.
IPM Entomologist
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
[email protected] / www.maine.gov/ipm
207-215-4793