Aerial mosquito spraying in Middlesex and Worcester counties to begin Monday night
Mosquito spraying is scheduled to begin for parts of Middlesex and Worcester counties Monday evening, after being previously delayed by unfavorable weather conditions. According to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the area to be sprayed stretches from the Connecticut and Rhode Island border to north of Marlborough. Parts or all of of Douglas, Framingham, Grafton, Hopkinton, Milford, Webster, Westborough and Uxbridge are all included in the spray zone. The spraying follows four cases of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Massachusetts so far this season, including one death. DAR officials said spray operations are intended to reduce populations of mosquitoes that may carry EEE.Spraying operations occur during the evening and overnight hours. Planes dispense a fine aerosol of droplets of a pesticide called Anvil 10+10, which kills adult mosquitoes on contact, according to Department of Public Health officials. Homeowners in the affected area can close windows and bring pets indoors overnight, although the DPH said this is not necessary. Other recent spraying operations included a second spraying of parts of Bristol and Plymouth Counties, which was completed over the weekend. DPH officials said the EEE virus has been found in hundreds of mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people.Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004-06 and 2010-12. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. —
Mosquito spraying is scheduled to begin for parts of Middlesex and Worcester counties Monday evening, after being previously delayed by unfavorable weather conditions.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the area to be sprayed stretches from the Connecticut and Rhode Island border to north of Marlborough. Parts or all of of Douglas, Framingham, Grafton, Hopkinton, Milford, Webster, Westborough and Uxbridge are all included in the spray zone.
The spraying follows four cases of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Massachusetts so far this season, including one death.
DAR officials said spray operations are intended to reduce populations of mosquitoes that may carry EEE.
Spraying operations occur during the evening and overnight hours. Planes dispense a fine aerosol of droplets of a pesticide called Anvil 10+10, which kills adult mosquitoes on contact, according to Department of Public Health officials.
Homeowners in the affected area can close windows and bring pets indoors overnight, although the DPH said this is not necessary.
Other recent spraying operations included a second spraying of parts of Bristol and Plymouth Counties, which was completed over the weekend.
DPH officials said the EEE virus has been found in hundreds of mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004-06 and 2010-12. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.
