DERRY — After a second round of mosquito spraying at public parks and schools last week, one Derry resident said he thinks the town should be taking extra steps to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus.

“I think we are beyond spraying the public parks,” said Cilley Road resident Scott Dellisola. “The mosquito population starts in stagnant water.”

Dellisola noted that stagnant pools of water in people's yards in swimming pools, tires, and wheelbarrows can act as breeding grounds for the insects.

Although the town-wide spraying conducted by Dragon Mosquito of Brentwood can be effective, Dellisola said it only hits a limited number of public areas. In the areas of the town not hit by the spraying, he said it can be impossible to go outside after dusk because of the number of mosquitoes and the risk of mosquito-borne infections.

To help combat the issue, Dellisola suggested fining residents who do not clean up pools of stagnant water that can act as breeding grounds.

Even if the fine was a nominal amount per month, Dellisola said it could add up over time and become aggravating for those letting water stagnate in outdoor pools.

If the town had addressed ways to control the mosquito population before now, Dellisola said the problem would not be as severe.

“To let it go to the point where it is too late is a big mistake,” he said. “We could have stopped West Nile Virus years ago.”

Town Administrator John Anderson said the town is looking into Dellisola's proposal with all interested parties.

The town has conducted two rounds of mosquito spraying this season, once at the end of August and once at the end of September.

Typically, the town budgets for one round of spraying per year, but the discovery of West Nile Virus in Sandown and the death of a horse in Derry that was infected with EEE, town officials decided to go forward with the second round of spraying.

aswift@newstote.com