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Town staff: West Nile found in state mosquito traps; local risk low, residents urged to take precautions
Summary
A town staff member said state surveillance has identified eight West Nile virus‑positive mosquitoes elsewhere in the state but none locally. Residents were advised to take ordinary precautions and may request spraying from the Bristol County mosquito task force (town spray day is Thursday).
A town staff member said state mosquito surveillance has detected eight West Nile virus‑positive mosquitoes across the state but that none have been found in the town, and urged residents to take routine mosquito‑avoidance precautions.
The staff member said the state issues weekly reports on trapped mosquitoes by county and that those reports do not break results down by town. “I get a weekly report from the state that talks about the numbers of mosquitoes that are trapped within each county,” the staff member said, adding that the state would contact the town directly if a local problem emerged.
The staff member summarized the situation as one of relatively low local risk. “We are at low risk, so that’s good,” they said.
Officials and residents were also told how to request mosquito control spraying: the Bristol County mosquito task force will spray on request, the staff member said, and callers should provide notice because the town’s scheduled spray day is Thursday. “They can just call and request the spraying,” the staff member said. The staff member added that spraying is weather dependent and will not occur during rain or high winds.
The staff member noted other mosquito‑borne illnesses and said there have been no detections of a more severe disease yet; the transcript rendered the phrase as “bridal e,” which likely refers to Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The staff member characterized that virus as “a little scarier than West Nile,” noting it can cause more severe neurological disease.
On illness and symptoms, the staff member said most people with West Nile experience mild, flu‑like symptoms and stressed the importance of basic precautions—such as using repellents, removing standing water, and minimizing outdoor exposure at peak mosquito hours—to protect family members.
The town did not announce any new local spraying plans or changes in policy; residents were directed to contact the Bristol County mosquito task force to request spraying and to allow time for scheduling ahead of weekend events.
