Spraying planned in 5 Central Mass. towns with high EEE risk: Questions and answers

The state will conduct spraying in five Central Massachusetts towns, starting Tuesday night and continuing for additional days, to kill mosquitoes that could carry the potentially deadly Eastern equine encephalitis.

Trucks will spray in Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton and Uxbridge to minimize the risk of contracting EEE, according to a press release from the state Department of Public Health. The communities fall in a high or critical risk zone for EEE, and spraying will start at dusk and wrap up around 4:30 the following morning.

Daily schedules are posted on the state's mosquito spray map and subject to change depending on the weather.

The move follows the first human EEE case in Massachusetts in four years . An Oxford man in his 80s was hospitalized after contracting the virus.

While Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton and Uxbridge fall in the high to critical risk zone, this will be the first truck spraying this year in those towns against EEE. Meanwhile, Northbridge and Webster also fall in the high to critical zone, but since they're part of the Central Mass Mosquito Control Project, spraying already happened in those towns.

What is EEE? Is it dangerous?

The virus is spread from the bite of an infected mosquito, and mosquitoes get it from biting infected birds and other animals.

Human infections are rare, because transmission normally happens around swampy areas. However, EEE is fatal for 30% of the people who get it. In Massachusetts, the last EEE outbreak resulted in six deaths out of a dozen cases in 2019, and one death in five cases in 2020. Many survivors have lasting neurological problems.

EEE symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. There are no vaccines to prevent EEE, or medicines to treat it.

Southern Worcester County is an emerging region for mosquito-borne illnesses, said Oxford Public Health Director Rike Sterrett, and some communities lack methods for ground control of mosquitoes.

"Spraying should be effective, but it's not a long-term solution," said Sterrett. "There are other methods to work on to put in place. ... A lot goes into mosquito control, and I hope the state helps our communities implement other preventive methods."

What is being sprayed?

The pesticide Anvil 10+10 will be sprayed from trucks in low volumes, according to the state health department.

The chemical is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, used extensively in ground-level and aerial spraying nationwide and proven to be effective in killing mosquitoes worldwide for more than 20 years.

Is there any risk to humans?

Unlikely, according to the state health department, and special precautions aren’t necessary.

Those who want to limit their exposure to Anvil 10+10 can stay inside during spraying. Anyone with sensitivities to chemicals and respiratory challenges, like asthma, are encouraged to stay indoors.

There is no risk to pets, according to health officials, but owners can keep them inside to limit exposure. Fruits and vegetables grown in areas that are sprayed are safe to eat. So are surface waters used for drinking.

Any risk to fish is minimal, because they're not surface feeding when trucks are spraying. The same low-risk level applies to honeybees because they’re usually in their hives at night. Beekeepers can cover the hive with a damp cloth to discourage bees from leaving the hive during spraying.

Is there 100% protection?

Spraying will cut the risk of infection, but won’t eliminate it, so state health officials advise precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

Those include applying insect repellent; wearing long pants, long sleeves and socks when outside; dumping out standing water where insects can breed; and patching up any holes in window screens to keep mosquitoes out.

Another precaution is staying inside after sunset, when the risk of mosquito bites increases.

In Oxford, officials are limiting town-sponsored outdoor activities, ending them at 6 p.m. in September and 5 p.m. in October as mosquito activity increases after dusk.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com . Follow him on X: @henrytelegram .

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Spraying planned in 5 Central Mass. towns with high EEE risk: Questions and answers