Photo: Jim MacKay/WBZ NewsRadio
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — State officials will begin spraying for mosquitoes in parts of Plymouth and Worcester counties this week to mitigate the risk of contracting Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Several communities in Plymouth and Worcester counties are at high or critical risk for EEE, a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages.
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the first human case of EEE in the state since 2020: a man in his 80s who lives in Worcester County.
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Last week, the town of Plymouth closed all public parks and fields from dusk to dawn because of the high risk status for EEE.
The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB) and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will conduct and monitor spraying, which is scheduled to take place at night, starting shortly after dusk and ending in the early morning.
Eight Plymouth County communities are in the aerial spray zone: Carver, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, and Wareham.
Five Worcester County communities are in the truck spray zone: Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton, and Uxbridge.
"Due to the increased EEE risk and the first human case of the season, the state is taking decisive action to protect public health," MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle said in a statement. "Aerial spraying will target mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus. While these measures are crucial for reducing transmission risk, it's vital for everyone to stay vigilant and follow personal protection guidelines to safeguard our community."
Officials are urging residents to apply mosquito repellent, wear long clothing, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, drain standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs, repair screens on their homes, and protect their animals.
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