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Mosquito surveillance finds multiple positive pools and one West Nile detection; town applied targeted spraying
Summary
Mosquito surveillance detected several positive pools for mosquito‑borne pathogens at a recurring location and a West Nile virus positive pool — the third in Sudbury since 2004 — prompting backpack and targeted vegetation spraying at parks and schools and continued trap testing and public protection advice.
Sudbury’s mosquito surveillance program reported multiple positive pools for mosquito testing and a West Nile virus positive pool — a rare finding for the town — and described targeted control steps taken at parks and school properties.
Brian, the town’s mosquito control lead, said traps and testing identified repeated positive pools at one location and a separate pool that tested positive for West Nile virus. “That was a West Nile virus positive pool, from a different location…this was the third one, I think, of all time,” Brian said, noting West Nile detections in town are uncommon.
After initial positive detections the town conducted backpack spraying in affected parks (Haskell, Feeley, Davis, Highfield, Featherland, Fairbanks Complex) and performed truck‑mounted spraying in targeted areas; the residual product applied to vegetation provides up to 90 days of protection on treated foliage. Brian recommended personal‑protection measures — EPA‑registered repellents, long clothing, and avoiding dawn‑to‑dusk exposure — and said trap numbers are falling due to dry conditions and cooler nights.
The department will continue surveillance and coordinate with the Department of Public Health on risk levels; no human cases were reported in this meeting’s discussion, and staff said the best practices are personal protection and property‑level source reduction (repair screens, remove standing water).
