Or more appropriately stated, some of the worst things about living in Central Massachusetts. Mosquitoes, plural.
The Mosquito Plague In Central Massachusetts – Central MA has mosquitoes, but do we have an over-abundance? The answer is – YES. The first reports of mosquito-transmitted Yellow Fever in the United States occurred in Charleston, SC, and Philadelphia, PA, back in 1699. Today, it is found in South America and Africa and causes around 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths each year. Fortunately, there is an effective vaccine against yellow fever.
But what about the other mosquito diseases that surround us here in Central Massachusetts? Are their vaccines for those?
Mosquitoes are a plague in Central Mass.
When are mosquitoes at their worst?
Mosquitoes are most active in Central Massachusetts from June through August, but the true determination of high periods of mosquito activity are weather dependent. In other words, the most active mosquito season is predicated on high temperatures and periods of rain. A lot of rain.
What diseases do mosquitoes carry in Central Massachusetts?
Mosquitoes can transmit germs when they bite. Here in Massachusetts, the diseases linked to mosquitoes are West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus.
A vaccine for West Nile Virus? Sorry, the answer is “No.”
A vaccine for Eastern Equine Encephalitis? “Not yet, but they’re working on it.”
You see, there actually is a human vaccine for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), but it has never been approved for public use.
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases—the military medical research institute at Fort Detrick in Maryland—developed a human EEE vaccine in the mid-1980s.
That vaccine has been under clinical trial ever since. The human vaccine is only available to those enrolled in the clinical trial, which is both very selective and — for non-active duty personnel — very expensive. Made from the inactivated whole virus, the human vaccine is safe and effective, just like the widely available veterinary vaccines.
But the news doesn’t get better. Like so many experimental vaccines, the human EEE vaccine will never be brought to market for use by the general public. Due to the way biologics are approved for use and marketed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is too expensive — costing $150 million or more — to undertake the required clinical trials to provide the FDA with the supporting data that they need to evaluate the potential product.
Subscribe to Reading mosquito control for protection against diseases, like West Nile virus and EEE.
Dave Macchia, Central Mass Mosquito Control Expert
One great thing about living in Central Mass, amongst ever-growing mosquito populations, is that we also have tried and trusted mosquito control solutions. Reputable mosquito control providers offer EPA-registered yard sprays, as well as natural solutions. The key is to employ the pros for your Reading mosquito control.