Take Steps to Protect Yourself from Mosquito-borne Illnesses

September 13, 2024

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Well, it's a glorious weekend. I hope you're all outside getting some exercise and enjoying a September in Maine.

But like all other New England states, Maine is also experiencing an active mosquito season. Even though summer is winding down, we've still got to be aware. And already this year, the Maine CDC has reported that three domestic animals in Maine have tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis or "Triple E." That's a serious mosquito borne disease.

The Maine CDC has also reported something called Jamestown Canyon and the West Nile virus, which are also mosquito-borne diseases, and that they've been found in mosquito pools and in wild birds in Maine. So it's important that we all take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

The Maine CDC recommends that whenever you go outside that you wear long sleeves and long pants and spray yourself with an EPA-approved bug spray repellent.

Mosquitoes are also most active at dusk and dawn, so you ought to be extra careful when going outside at those times. Use screens on your windows and screens on your doors to keep mosquitoes out and drain and empty any artificial sources of standing water around the house like bird baths and pet water dishes and wheelbarrows, which are ideal places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Finally, just do everything you can to prevent mosquito bites when you're traveling.

Nobody wants to get bit by a mosquito, but these days you might get something more than just a mosquito bite. You might get a pretty serious illness.

People infected by a mosquito bite with one of these viruses may have no symptoms, but mosquito-borne illnesses can be serious and potentially fatal. One New Hampshire resident died after contracting Triple E and Massachusetts just reported its fourth case of Triple E in humans and its 10th human case of West Nile virus this summer.

If you get bitten by a mosquito and you experience flu like symptoms or a severe headache or behavioral changes or serious drowsiness, call your health care provider. Especially if you've already taken a COVID-19 test and it's negative.

And if you're worried about your pets, please talk to your veterinarian about how you can protect them from mosquito-borne diseases.

Like all Maine people, I love spending time outdoors during these beautiful, warm months, but I'll be taking a lot of steps, too, like wearing long sleeves and using bug spray to avoid mosquitoes as much as possible I certainly encourage you to do the same.

The Maine CDC will continue to closely monitor incidents of mosquito-borne illnesses in our state, and they'll keep issuing tips like these of just mentioned. To protect yourself and protect your pets through mosquito season, which will last until two hard frosts kill them this winter. We've got a ways to go. We can all do our part to spread awareness, let people know.

And I hope that you'll share these tips with friends and family. For more information, please visit the Maine CDC website at Maine.gov.

This is Governor Janet Mills. I hope you have a happy September, a happy, fair season, and hope you have a glorious weekend. Thank you for listening.