In Brandon on Wednesday, Vermont health and agriculture officials will discuss a new plan to monitor and react to the threat of viruses spread by mosquitoes. The State of Vermont 2013 Arbovirus Surveillance & Response Plan details how state officials plan to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to track and respond to incidents of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus.
Last year, EEE was detected in mosquitoes for the first time in Vermont and two people died from the disease, in Brandon and Whiting.
The 25 page plan was finalized last month. Officials from the Health Department and the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets will share the plan with the public at the Brandon Town Hall on July 10, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
The plan calls for a multi-pronged approach to tracking the mosquito-spread viruses and preventing human infections. Actions include:
- trapping and testing mosquitoes
- larvae testing in mosquito-dense areas
- keeping track of dead birds reported by the public
- animal illness surveillance with the cooperation of veterinarians
- public information and educational outreach
- possible insecticide spraying in areas identified as high-risk
Vermont's plan is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as similar plans previously implemented in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
