Board of Health members on Monday discussed a possible surge in West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes, which could impact the town.

Health Department Director Shaun McAuliffe and public health nurse Simone Carter informed the board they would be putting an advisory out to residents about the risks.

“Mosquito numbers are extremely high right now,” said McAuliffe.

As a result, the Health Department is asking residents to take precautions while outdoors. These recommendations include using EPA-approved mosquito repellents and avoiding spending time outdoors during high-activity periods for mosquitoes.

“Dawn and dusk is when they’re most active,” McAuliffe explained.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile already have been identified in Worcester, Clinton, Medfield, Marlborough, Natick, Wayland and Dover.

McAuliffe reported that he felt it was only a matter of time before sampling sites in town also showed instances of mosquitoes carrying the disease.

To help combat the spread of mosquitoes carrying West Nile, the Health Department continues to work with the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP).

McAuliffe informed the board that teams from CMMCP will be spraying across town in the next two weeks. Apart from spraying, they also will be treating stagnant water bodies where the mosquitoes are breeding.

“They’ll be treating these areas with organic larvicide, which will kill the larva and control the population,” said McAuliffe.

The board made sure to remind residents that they are able to request services from CMMCP themselves, or opt out if needed. Residents also have the option to coordinate spraying on their block or street with their neighbors.

Carter and McAuliffe also recommended proper tick bite prevention. Carter has seen an uptick in reported cases of tick-borne illnesses.

McAuliffe’s report indicated a tick bite recently resulted in a resident’s death.

Residents looking to guard themselves against ticks should use EPA-approved tick repellents on their lower extremities and outerwear, especially their shoes. Repellents like permethrin can be found at hardware stores and lawn and garden centers, according to McAuliffe.

COVID-19 cases increase

Carter and McAuliffe informed the board about efforts to deal with ongoing COVID-19 infections. According to the Health Department, 52 COVID cases have been reported in the past month.

“That’s just what was reported,” said McAuliffe in a follow-up phone conversation. “The real number is probably three to five times higher.”

Carter has been monitoring cases and fielding increasing requests for COVID test kits. McAuliffe informed the board that he had just submitted a request to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) for 10-20 additional cases of tests.

Said McAuliffe: “I’m going to get whatever I can.”

Strategic plan moves to final steps

The board received updates on the progress of the Health Department’s strategic plan. Developed in consultation with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Collins Institute, a draft of the plan was provided to the department at the end of June.

After careful review, a number of edits were submitted on the draft. McAuliffe reported that his department anticipated having the finalized draft in hand in the next few days.

“The hope is to have it in [the town manager’s] hands by the end of the week,” he said.

One of the chief priorities in the long-term strategic plan is improving staffing numbers. In particular, the Health Department needs help in providing enough nursing for residents.

According to McAuliffe, shifts in the way the state manages its approach to health services has resulted in more work being pushed down to local health departments. Although the only full-time nurse in town, Carter is said to be saddled with extensive amounts of paperwork.

“Adding nurses will allow fundamental nursing programs to start back up,” said McAuliffe.

Update provided on soil issue

McAuliffe walked the Board of Health through the details of an environmental complaint the department had received since the last meeting.

He explained that soil had been moved from a construction site in town to a separate property outside the town limits. This generated a complaint, as the location it was removed from is known to contain traces of “legacy pesticides.”

The actions of the construction crew constitute a violation of the Similar Soils Policy — a state regulation concerning the management of contaminated soil.

Under the regulation, the property that received the contaminated soil can test it and request it be removed back to Hopkinton.

“That could be a very pricey operation,” McAuliffe explained.

Representatives of the Health Department and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection visited the construction site and advised workers to stop removing soil from the area. In addition, they met with the property owner to explain the policy and clear up any confusion moving forward.

Department says farewell to summer intern

McAuliffe took time to recognize the efforts of the Health Department’s summer intern, Georgia Quesnelle.

Quesnelle was brought on as a summer intern through MDPH. Over the last few months, she’s helped McAuliffe and others on a number of initiatives, including an extreme coverage control plan and looking at a proposal for developing a new cemetery in town.

McAuliffe also lauded Quesnelle’s work on a fundamental public health medicine program for the town.

“She’s really done a great job,” he said.