More Massachusetts towns and neighborhoods will be sprayed for mosquitos Tuesday after two men were diagnosed with the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.
East Boston, Worcester and Andover were set to be sprayed as preventative measures to decrease the chances of EEE and West Nile virus from spreading. The mosquito-borne viruses are rare, but can be potentially fatal.
The move comes a day after West Roxbury and Hyde Park were sprayed as a precaution.
Health officials announced Tuesday that a second round of in Bristol and Plymouth counties would start Wednesday.
“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 John Lebeaux, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Testing conducted on Aug. 14 confirmed mosquitoes in Worcester carried West Nile virus. The spraying will take place after sunset and residents are encouraged to stay indoors if they see crews spraying the aerial pesticide.
The first confirmed case of EEE was found earlier this month in a Rochester man. The second case was discovered in a Grafton man days later.
