Successful Aerial Spraying for Mosquitoes Completed in Six Communities in Southeastern Massachusetts
Residents advised to continue to take precautions against mosquito-borne illnesses
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) today announced that aerial spraying for mosquitoes has been completed in six Southeastern Massachusetts communities, including Bridgewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater. The final spraying took place on the evening of Monday, August 13.
“The focused aerial spraying in these six communities was completed successfully,” said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach. “Residents should continue to take practical steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Spraying reduces the risk of mosquito-borne illness, but it is not eliminated. The threat remains critical in these communities.”
An updated searchable spray zone map will be available later today at: www.mass.gov/agr/spray-map
All residents, whether inside or outside the spray zone, are urged to continue taking personal precautions to protect against mosquito-borne illnesses, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis. These include using insect repellent, covering exposed skin when outside, and avoiding outdoor activities between the hours of dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are at their most active.
State officials made the decision to conduct aerial spraying following the detection of multiple EEE-positive mosquito samples in Southeastern Massachusetts this summer.
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