DANVILLE — West Nile virus has been detected in two Rockingham County communities.
Health officials said mosquitoes in East Kingston and Danville tested positive for the virus, which is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito that was transmitted from an infected bird.
Spraying is scheduled for Thursday in East Kingston at the elementary school and Foss Wasson field.
In 2017 so far, nine batches of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in the southern part of the state, according to the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. No cases in humans have been reported.
"Cities and towns in the southern region of the state are more affected," said Beth Daly, chief of the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. "However, they do mosquito trapping so there is a little bit more surveillance. We do see our activity in the southern part of the state because that's where testing is done."
In Danville, this is the first West Nile outbreak of the year. Danville Health Officer Brian Lockard said that since this time of year is the end of mosquito season, there is not much concern.
"What we've been finding in the traps is that the numbers are very, very low, which is typical this time of year," said Lockard. "It usually takes a frost or two to take them out."
No additional aerial spraying is being done in Danville for this outbreak since it is minimal. Danville and surrounding communities run mosquito control programs which begin spraying target areas, like stagnant water, in the spring and end in the fall.
"The program checks wet areas, swamps, wetlands, and stagnant water," Lockard said.
Health officials are stressing the importance of avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and disposing of standing water which mosquitoes congregate.
Daly warned that even though the weather is beginning to turn chillier, mosquitoes can still be present.
"As weather gets colder it's important for people to remain vigilant," said Daly. "We do still see these viruses and they don't really go away until we've had two hard frosts across the state."
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