22.107 Alternative Mosquito Management PlanSince 2018 the City of Northampton has been a member community of the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District (PVMCD). PVMCD uses an Integrated Pest Management Approach (IPM) to make
the best decisions about the mosquito management methods needed to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness and provide residents with relief from nuisance levels of biting mosquitoes.
Services are tailored to the member communities’ unique geographical makeup, needs of their residents.
One of the primary services PVMCD provides is mosquito surveillance. After the proper habitat has been identified, PVMCD staff sets three traps (gravid trap, cdc lite trap and ovi-trap)
weekly for 12-14 weeks between the months of June and October. The trapped mosquitoes are then identified and sent to the State laboratory for disease testing. PVMCD will provide
real-time data therefore allowing for communities the opportunity to respond if necessary if there were to be a threat of disease.
The Health Departments starts pushing out prevention and eduactional materials regarding moquito borne illnesses in May. We have crafted educational materials for different targeted
audiences, such as residents, busineses, schools, daycare, camps, horse farms and the elderly. General Educational materials and PSA's are disseminated through many social media
platforms, public television, local radio, flyers and local newspapers.
What we have found to be successful in the past and what we plan on doing this season to reach our youth population is to go to the schools and camps and give a presentation on the best
ways to protect themselves . We use the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bite Lab Kit and Kid-friendly activity booklet about mosquitoes and West Nile virus. It brings early
awareness to children about this mosquito-borne illness and how to avoid mosquito bites that the best strategy.
Another component of our educational campain is to inform the public on practical steps to reduce mosquito habitat around your home. The Health Department has developed a brochure with
tips on how to mosquito proof your home and reduce breeding areas. The brochure is made available at libraries, community centers, senior center and housing properties. Depending
on surveillance activity, we may do a mass mailing also. Additionally the Health Deparment tables at many community events in the spring and summer where we will hand out brochures
and repellant.
Lastly as a moquito breeding mitigation strategy, the Health Depatment contracts with a third party company to treat catch basins and known standing water areas with larvacide.