WORCESTER — Worcester will begin spraying areas of the city for mosquito control starting on Tuesday, city officials said.
The city is partnering with the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project to reduce mosquito exposure to the public and the potential for disease transmission by mosquitoes, including West Nile Virus and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Spray dates in June are Tuesday, June 21 and June 27.
Residents are advised to observe the following precautions if their area is being sprayed:
- Close street-facing windows and turn off any “outside air” settings on air conditioners.
- Keep pets inside between sunset and midnight, and do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted applicators when they are in use
- Remain inside during the application and for 15-20 minutes afterwards
- Wash off any vegetables from home gardens after spraying and before consuming them
Accidental exposure is not expected to cause any health concerns in most people, although anyone who suffers from chemical sensitivities or feels that spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition should consult their physician and take special measures to avoid exposure if necessary, officials said. Accidental exposure to pets should also not cause a problem since the pesticide being used is similar to ones used for flea and tick control.
Residents may opt out of having their property sprayed during wide area pesticide application by following instructions on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources website.
The full spraying schedule will updated during 2023. Specific areas to be sprayed will be posted both on its website and phone system, 508-393-3055, daily after 3:30 p.m.
The city will also notify residents in specific areas and neighborhoods to be sprayed via email, social media, and text. Residents interested in receiving these alerts should ensure that they are registered for ALERTWorcester with an up-to-date email and/or phone number. Additional alerts will be sent if cases of mosquito-borne illness are detected and necessitate emergency spraying.
Scheduled dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity, and/or special event spraying, officials said.
Requests for service can be submitted by clicking here or by calling 508-393-3055, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. More information is available by calling 508-281-6786 or emailing MosquitoProgram@mass.gov.
Information about the products and Integrated Pest Management program used by CMMCP is available at www.cmmcp.org/pesticide-information.
To avoid mosquito bites and the diseases they can transmit, residents are encouraged to practice the “5 Ds:”
- DRESS in long sleeves and pants when possible. Cover up during periods of mosquito activity.
- DEET is an effective insect repellent. Always follow the label instructions.
- DAWN & DUSK are mosquitoes’ most active periods.
- DRAIN water from containers weekly. Avoid standing water, such as rain collecting in open bins, buckets, or toys.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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