Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Oct. 1: Possible Evening Activity Restrictions

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Monday, Oct. 1. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Mosquitoes: The Hamilton Board of Health is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Monday night to consider “additional action” that might be taken “to protect public health” which may include banning outdoor evening activities because of the threat of West Nile Virus and EEE from mosquitoes. The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Room at Hamilton Town Hall. 2. ARC Walk: If you plan to register for the upcoming 16th Annual Northeast Arc “Run, Walk or Roll” on Saturday, Oct. 13 you may want to do it on Monday. ARC serves residents of the two towns with disabilities. The event starts and finishes at Plains Park, behind the Holten-Richmond Middle …

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West Nile Found in Mosquito Near Chebacco Lake, More Spraying Planned

The Hamilton Board of Health announced on Friday that another mosquito tested positive for West Nile Virus and another round of spraying will be conducted.

West Nile Virus has again been found in a mosquito in Hamilton, again on the east end of town. Health Agent Leslie Whalen said on Friday that the positive test means that officials plan to again spray next week. “We chose Wednesday because it looks like it could be too cold on Monday or Tuesday,” she said. Spraying can not be conducted when it is raining or is below 60 degrees. The spraying will occur along Essex Street and roads east of Essex Street between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Thursday, she said. It will be the fourth time that spraying has been conducted this summer and fall in Hamilton. Here are some safety tips for residents in the area planned to be sprayed: • People with asthma and/or other respiratory conditions may wish to stay …

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First Human EEE Case Reported in Essex County

The fist case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a human is a man in his 70s in Georgetown.

The first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a human in Essex County has been reported in Georgetown, according to the state Department of Public Health and a report in the Newburyport Daily News. No human cases of EEE or West Nile Virus have been reported in Hamilton and Wenham. Mosquitoes have tested positive for both EEE and West Nile Virus and Hamilton has sprayed three times and Wenham has sprayed twice in targeted areas. No further spraying has been announced. The Hamilton Board of Health has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Room at Hamilton Town Hall. On the agenda is a “mosquito control update.” Georgetown Town Administrator Michael Farrell told the Daily News that the man in his 70s is …

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Mosquito Spraying Planned for Highland Street on Monday night

The Highland Street area of Hamilton will be sprayed for mosquitoes on Monday night.

For the third time this summer, spraying for mosquitoes will happen on Monday night in Hamilton. Health Agent Leslie Whalen said on Saturday that mosquitoes have tested positive for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. A Connect-CTY phone call also wnet out to town residents on Sunday afternoon. “As a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness, targeted truck spraying in the area along Highland Street and roads west of Highland Street will be conducted in Hamilton on Monday, Sept. 10 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. - weather permitting,” she said in announcing the latest spraying. “Residents in the targeted areas are asked to stay indoors during the spraying.” The spraying will not happen if …

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No West Nile Found So Hamilton Won't Spray for Mosquitoes

Hamilton decided at a recent Board of Health meeting not to spray for mosquitoes based on the lack of a positive testing for the West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

The Hamilton Board of Health decided last week not to spray for mosquitoes because no mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Ensephalitis, according to Nancy Stevens, administrative assistant to Health Agent Leslie Whelan Earlier this month, a mosquito in Wenham tested positive for West Nile Virus near Iron Rail. Four days after the positive test, the Northeast Mosquito Control District came to Wenham and sprayed in the area of Iron Rail. And earlier this month a mosquito also tested positive for West Nile Virus in Ipswich. Symptons of West Nile Virus include a fever, headache, body aches and possibly a rash. It can last from a few days to as long as a few weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control …

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Health Officials Offer Warnings and Tips and Heat Settles In

The heat wave that is expected in the area on Thursday and Friday was prompted local health officials to warn of the danger of heat and offer up several tips to stay safe.

Residents are being reminded to slow down and drink plenty of water as a heat wave settles in. The Hamilton Board of Health issued an advisory on Wednesday about the dangers of heat as the National Weather Service has issued an “excessive heat watch” and “heat advisory” for Thursday and Friday afternoons. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s both days. The alert extends from northern Connecticut and Rhode Island to southern New Hampshire and includes all of Massachusetts except for parts of the Berkshires, Cape Cod and the Islands. While actual temperatures are expected to reach between 95 and 100 degrees during the alert, with the heat index it will make it feel as though the temperature is actually 105 degrees. The …

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