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August 29. 2012 11:23PM
Goffstown OKs spraying for mosquitoes in parks
GOFFSTOWN — Selectmen approved the spraying of its three town parks for mosquitoes that could carry West Nile virus, which will likely take place in September.
This decision comes after reports of a Queen City resident recently recovering from West Nile Virus and reports that 29 mosquito pools in Manchester tested positive for West Nile.
The town is working with the school district, Villa Augustina and St. Anselm College to share state permitting costs, and once the permit is approved by the state, the earliest spraying could take place is the week of Sept. 10, according to Town administrator Sue Desruisseaux.
Despite the fact that the end of summer is approaching, Desruisseaux said the risk level for West Nile Virus is still moderate.
“The first frost doesn’t kill all of the mosquitoes,” said Desruisseaux, adding she was told it takes approximately six to eight hours of a hard frost to do so.
The cost to spray Barnard, Roy and Sarette parks is $2,750, Desruisseaux said, and the schools will have to pay their share of the costs.
Desruisseaux told selectmen she thought the spraying was worth the expense.
Scott Gross, vice chairman of the Board of Selectmen, agreed.
“We did have a child have West Nile virus in this town, we shouldn’t forget that,” he said, but as he recalled, did not contract it at one of the town parks.
The district is looking to spray playing fields at Mountain View Middle School and Goffstown High School, which are more likely to have students using them at dusk.
While spraying local parks will help reduce the number of mosquitoes, Desruisseaux warned that the mosquito population won’t be eliminated entirely.
“People should still do their due diligence,” she said. “We don’t want to give people a false sense of security.”
State guidelines for protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes include wearing long sleeves and pants during the peak mosquito hours of dawn and dusk, using an insect repellant that contains DEET, and getting rid of standing water in yards so mosquitoes won’t have a chance to breed.
Kathy Remillard may be reached at kremillard@newstote.com.
This decision comes after reports of a Queen City resident recently recovering from West Nile Virus and reports that 29 mosquito pools in Manchester tested positive for West Nile.
The town is working with the school district, Villa Augustina and St. Anselm College to share state permitting costs, and once the permit is approved by the state, the earliest spraying could take place is the week of Sept. 10, according to Town administrator Sue Desruisseaux.
Despite the fact that the end of summer is approaching, Desruisseaux said the risk level for West Nile Virus is still moderate.
“The first frost doesn’t kill all of the mosquitoes,” said Desruisseaux, adding she was told it takes approximately six to eight hours of a hard frost to do so.
The cost to spray Barnard, Roy and Sarette parks is $2,750, Desruisseaux said, and the schools will have to pay their share of the costs.
Desruisseaux told selectmen she thought the spraying was worth the expense.
Scott Gross, vice chairman of the Board of Selectmen, agreed.
“We did have a child have West Nile virus in this town, we shouldn’t forget that,” he said, but as he recalled, did not contract it at one of the town parks.
The district is looking to spray playing fields at Mountain View Middle School and Goffstown High School, which are more likely to have students using them at dusk.
While spraying local parks will help reduce the number of mosquitoes, Desruisseaux warned that the mosquito population won’t be eliminated entirely.
“People should still do their due diligence,” she said. “We don’t want to give people a false sense of security.”
State guidelines for protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes include wearing long sleeves and pants during the peak mosquito hours of dawn and dusk, using an insect repellant that contains DEET, and getting rid of standing water in yards so mosquitoes won’t have a chance to breed.
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Kathy Remillard may be reached at kremillard@newstote.com.
