Thursday, 4:30 PM
Triple E prompts aerial spraying for mosquitoes
By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff
For the first time in 16 years, aerial spraying will be used to combat mosquitoes carrying eastern equine encephalitis in Southeastern Massachusetts, state officials announced today.
The spraying, which will cover 159,000 acres, could start as early as Monday. Two small planes will take to the air shortly after sunset and continue spraying until about 1 a.m. If the spraying is not completed in one evening, they will continue the following night.
The decision to spray from the air was prompted by the discovery last week of infected mosquitoes in the Lakeville/Middleborough area. The bugs are known to bite humans and capable of transmitting the disease, the most lethal of all mosquito-borne illnesses. Up to half of humans infected with eastern equine encephalitis die.
Aerial spraying has generated controversy in the past because of fears about human exposure to the chemicals used. The planes will spray a pesticide called Anvil. A main ingredient is sumithrin, a synthetic agent that is also used to control ticks and fleas on pets. State authorities said because low doses of the pesticide will be used, there is little risk to human health.
