2nd Round of Aerial Spraying for Mosquitoes to Take Place in Southeastern MA

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2nd Round of Aerial Spraying for Mosquitoes to Take Place in Southeastern MA

2nd round of aerial spraying for mosquitoes to take Place in Southeastern MA
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that a second round of aerial spraying for mosquitoes will take place in southeastern Massachusetts.

“Due to the continued high-risk levels in southeastern Massachusetts, the Commonwealth is taking action to protect public health by conducting a second aerial spray to further reduce the population of mosquitoes that transmit the EEE virus,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux.

The spraying will take place in specific areas of Bristol and Plymouth on Wednesday, August 21 and continue over several nights.

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However, the ability to spray is weather dependent and the schedule may change.

“While aerial spraying is an important tool to help us reduce the public health risk of EEE, it’s critically important that everyone in high-risk areas continue to take personal precautions against mosquito bites. These steps include using EPA-approved bug spray, wearing long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin, and canceling outdoor activities which take place during the hours from dusk to dawn when mosquito activity is at its highest,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH.

The Spraying

The pesticide used is called Anvil 10+10, a product extensively tested and used in both ground-level and aerial spraying in the U.S. to control mosquitoes. Anvil 10+10 contains two ingredients: Sumithrin and Piperonyl butoxid. 

Sumithrin is an ingredient similar to the natural components of the chrysanthemum flower which is also found in other pesticide products used indoors, in pet shampoos, and tick control treatments.

Sumithrin is rapidly inactivated and decomposes with exposure to light and air, with a half-life of less than one day in the air and on plants. In soil, it degrades rapidly.

Sumithrin has proven to be extremely effective in killing mosquitoes worldwide for over 20 years. Piperonyl butoxide serves to increase the ability of Sumithrin to kill mosquitoes.

There are no health risks expected during or after spraying.

EEE

EEE 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 2004-2006 and 2010-2012.

There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth Counties.

The last human case of EEE in Massachusetts occurred in 2013.


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