Embodiments include methods for a gateway device to selectively forward messages in a wireless mesh network. Such methods include receiving, over one of a plurality of network interfaces of the gateway device, a message published to a group address or a virtual address and retrieving, from a database accessible by the gateway device, unicast addresses of all communication devices identified by the group address or the virtual address. Such methods include, based on determining that all communication devices addressed by the retrieved unicast addresses are serviced by the gateway device, sending the received message on all network interfaces that correspond to the communication devices addressed by the retrieved unicast addresses; and based on determining that not all communication devices addressed by the retrieved unicast addresses are serviced by the gateway device, sending the received message on all network interfaces except for the network interface over which the message was received.