Maine panel recommends state of emergency over mosquito-borne illnesses

Maine is facing a potential state of emergency over mosquito-borne illnesses for the first time ever.

The state’s Arboviral Public Health Panel voted Thursday to recommend a state of emergency, which would need Gov. Janet Mills’ approval before taking effect, state epidemiologist Sara Robinson told the Board of Pesticides Control on Friday.

“It’s still uncharted territory what an emergency declaration means,” the board’s director Andrew Peacock said.

If funding became available for pesticide spraying , it would likely happen through an emergency declaration, he said. It’s not clear if that money could come from the state or if towns would be responsible, according to Peacock.

The board has been looking for aerial pesticide applicators in Maine. Other states use vehicles fitted with equipment to spray pesticides as they drive, but there are few of those here, he said.

If spraying begins in earnest, farms could opt out and become exclusion zones.

Towns in other New England states have canceled outdoor events and advised their residents to stay inside at dusk, when the mosquitoes are most active.

Mosquito-borne illnesses have become an increasing problem across New England , especially as warmer seasons mean mosquitoes are active from May through October instead of only the summer months.

West Nile virus has infected 15 known wild birds in Maine this year. Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, has been found in one wild bird and three domesticated animals, one of which the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday.

A horse from Somerset County tested positive for EEE, making it the third animal. The other two were emus.

A third disease, the Jamestown Canyon virus , has been found in four mosquitoes this year.

Ten counties in Maine have confirmed mosquito-borne disease cases.

The Maine CDC also received $100,000 in new funding from the Maine Board of Pesticides Control Friday to expand its testing and monitoring.

Robinson said it’s been difficult to track mosquito-borne illnesses because of inconsistent federal funding for testing them.

Members called the situation a “real human health risk.”

State agencies hope to double their surveillance sites next year.