Exposure risk from Browntail moth hair increases during fall outdoor activities

AUGUSTA – The Department of Health and Human Services’ Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Forest Service (MFS), and 211 Maine remind residents and visitors to protect themselves from browntail moth hairs this fall.

Browntail moth hairs are toxic and can remain
in the environment for up to three years.
COURTESY PHOTO

Browntail moth caterpillars shed tiny, toxic hairs that can get stirred up during outdoor activities like raking, mowing, and other typical fall yard work. Those hairs can cause a skin rash that feels like poison ivy.

When some of the hairs become airborne they can be inhaled and cause breathing difficulty. The hairs can stay toxic in the environment for up to three years, especially in dry or sheltered areas.

Though browntail moth activity has decreased significantly in recent years, the Maine CDC recommends Maine people continue to take precautions when outside and engaging in activities that could stir up the hairs. DACF’s Maine Forest Service has found evidence of browntail moths in all Maine counties, with the majority in southern and central Maine.

Most people affected by the hairs develop a localized rash that lasts for a few hours up to several days. In more sensitive people, the rash can be severe and last for weeks. Hairs may also cause respiratory distress. Treatment for the rash or breathing problems focuses on relieving symptoms and eliminating further exposure.

To reduce exposure to browntail moth hairs

Stay informed about browntail moth hotspots by visiting the DACF MFS’ Interactive Browntail Moth Dashboard to see where MFS notes browntail moth activity. Then, be proactive, know the risks, take steps to protect yourself, and monitor your surroundings.

When performing outdoor activities that may stir up caterpillar hairs:

* Aim for damp days or spray vegetation with water. Moisture helps keep the hairs from becoming airborne.

* Cover your face and any exposed skin by wearing a long sleeve shirt, long pants, goggles, a respirator/dust mask, and a hat. You can also use a disposable coverall over clothing.

* Secure clothing around the neck, wrists, and ankles.

* Avoid using leaf blowers in areas known to have heavy infestations.

* Take cool showers and change clothes after outdoor activities in infested areas.

* Dry laundry inside to avoid getting hairs on clothing.

For more details

Contact 211 Maine for answers to frequently asked questions on browntail moths: Dial 211 or 1-866-811-5695 or text your zip code to 898-211.

Visit the Maine CDC’s Browntail Moth website: www.maine.gov/dhhs/browntailmoth. Visit the Maine Forest Service Browntail Moth website: www.maine.gov/dacf/knockoutbtm <