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Concord Board of Health authorizes director to hold or relax EEE advisory based on this week’s mosquito tests
Summary
After recent negative mosquito samples and falling trap counts, the Concord Board of Health voted to let Public Health Director Melanie Deneen maintain the town’s dusk‑to‑dawn EEE advisory if new tests are positive, or relax it if this week’s sampling is negative or sampling stops.
The Concord Board of Health on Sept. 23 voted to authorize Public Health Director Melanie Deneen to either keep or relax the board’s dusk‑to‑dawn activity recommendation for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) based on results of mosquito testing this week.
Chair Brandy Krang opened the discussion by noting that mosquitoes tested in Concord the previous week were negative for EEE but that the state still lists Concord as a high‑risk area. "The mosquito population is undoubtedly declining just because of the time of year," Krang said during the discussion.
Melanie Deneen, public health director, and Tony (mosquito‑control representative) told the board that recent trap counts were low — "about 20 to 25 total mosquitoes caught" — and that several nearby towns’ samples had also returned negative. Tony reported he had spoken with Brian, the mosquito control superintendent, and said the statewide sampling report showed low numbers for species that carry risk.
Board members debated options including maintaining the current strong recommendation, dialing it back to advise personal protection only, or waiting for additional test results before changing the advisory. Dottie Bernard moved to authorize Deneen to take two actions: if testing occurs this week, maintain the current recommendation until results are received; if tests come back negative, change the recommendation to relax the dusk‑to‑dawn restriction. The motion passed unanimously.
Deneen told the board the state’s mosquito sampling program typically stops by Oct. 1, and members said they would prefer waiting for any remaining results before altering public guidance. The board directed Deneen to act consistent with the motion and to communicate changes publicly if and when the recommendation is adjusted.
The board’s action was procedural: it authorized staff discretion tied to specific test results rather than adopting an immediate change to the advisory. No new emergency order or ordinance was enacted; the board’s direction was limited to recommending or relaxing activity guidance depending on surveillance data.
