To Combat EEE, Mass. To Begin Aerial Spraying

The state will conduct aerial spraying on Friday and Saturday night in 21 communities (list below), after mammal-biting mosquitoes carrying Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a potentially fatal disease for humans, were found in southeastern Massachusetts.

As the Associated Press reports:

The Department of Public Health on Wednesday added 10 cities and towns to the aerial spraying list, adding to the 11 others previously announced.

"The goal of aerial application is to support our other tools, such as ground spraying and instructing individuals to observe personal protective measures," Kevin Cranston, director of DPH's Bureau of Infectious Disease, told our Newscast unit.

"We are balancing impact on people and the environment as well as trying to protect individuals from a very serious infectious illness, such as EEE," he added.

EEE can be fatal; last year, an elderly man in Raynham died soon after contracting EEE.

As we've reported, mammal-biting mosquitoes carrying EEE have been found weeks earlier than normal this summer.

Here's the list of 21 communities, from DPH:

- Acushnet
- Berkley
- Bridgewater
- Carver
- Dighton
- East Bridgewater
- Easton
- Freetown
- Halifax
- Hanson
- Kingston
- Lakeville
- Middleborough
- Norton
- Pembroke
- Plympton
- Raynham
- Rehoboth
- Rochester
- Taunton
- West Bridgewater