Much has been written and said about mosquitos and EEE over the past few weeks and our office has been staying on top of the issue with regular updates from the Department of Public Health (DPH). Mosquito control activities are continuing across the state to reduce public health risk from EEE, including local coordination regarding enhanced ground and truck spraying and ongoing monitoring of mosquito samples.

Ground spraying is planned and carried out by local communities and mosquito control projects and districts. In our area, we have the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District (NCMCD) which represents the interests of the member communities and their residents. They have a robust website with vast resources which you can access by clicking here. Any resident can call the NCMCD at (781) 762-3681, Monday through Friday during regular office hours (7:00 AM to 3:30 PM), to register a mosquito complaint. As an alternative, residents can request service online from the Online Service Request Form.

DPH maintains a EEE website which has many helpful resources, including the latest EEE risk map, aerial spraying information, and recommended cancellation times for outdoor activities in high risk areas.

It remains essential that individuals take personal precautions against mosquito bites. These steps include using EPA-approved bug spray, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors to reduce exposed skin, and cancelling outdoor activities in the hours from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Learn more about EEE in Massachusetts and how to protect yourself and your family. Visit DPH’s EEE page and follow @MassDPH on Twitter for the latest information. If you have any trouble accessing information or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 617-722-2030.