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TOPSFIELD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Organizers are expecting thousands to show up to the Topsfield Fair, America's oldest—200 years of sheep shearing, swine racing, and delicious food.
But this year, health officials are concerned about another kind of visitor: Mosquitoes.
That's because Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, has been found in 12 Massachusetts residents this year, and killed three.
To see which areas are currently under high EEE risk, click here.
Luckily, the organizers have taken several precautions this year.
Crews cut the grass extra low at the fair, removed standing water, sanitized open surfaces, and brushed animals—plus, they've sprayed the grounds twice.
But if the threat is high, so is the confidence of those who prepare the fairgrounds.
"We've been working day and night, and none of us complained about mosquitoes," one worker told WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama.
Organizers have also reminded fair-goers that it's important to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.
The gates will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports
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