WENDELL — The Selectboard voted Wednesday to opt out of a program through the state Department of Agricultural Resources that involves aerial spraying of mosquitoes to protect against eastern equine encephalitis, better known as EEE.
Municipalities are allowed to decline the service as long as they develop their own mosquito control program, which must be submitted to the state for approval. Board of Health Chair Barbara Craddock said no alternate plan has been devised yet, but one is due by May 15.
Selectboard Chair Dan Keller said during Wednesday’s meeting that he has no interest in having residents and animals subjected to chemical spraying.
“I would have thought we’d learn something from Vietnam,” he said, “when we took the advice of Dow Chemical that Agent Orange was safe.”
Member Laurie DiDonato made the motion to opt out, and it passed unanimously.
Craddock discussed the issue with the three-member Selectboard before the vote. In the interest of fairness, she mentioned that spraying would be conducted at night to minimize contact with humans and animals.
Craddock told the Greenfield Recorder that an alternate plan, due by May 15, is required to include public outreach and should consist of practices such as collecting old tires from around town and ensuring old road culverts won’t collect water. Used tires and stagnant water foster a prime breeding habitat for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Craddock said she and the other Board of Health members agree with the Selectboard’s stance.
“People in our town have, historically, not been in favor of use of chemicals for spraying,” she said. “So this is not something new.”
According to the state’s website (bit.ly/2REnZJJ), EEE is a rare but serious viral disease. It is generally spread to people by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus.
“EEE can cause severe illness and possibly death in people of all ages,” the website states. “However, people under age 15 are especially at risk.”
The website states EEE does not occur every year, but outbreaks lasting two to three years are known to happen. Risk can be reduced by using insect repellent, wearing clothes that cover the skin while outdoors, and making sure window and door screens are intact. It is also helpful to dump out water that can collect in garbage cans, flower pots, bird baths, discarded vehicle tires and other containers.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.