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Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Horse Case in Uxbridge and Tentative Spraying Dates
On Friday, August 23, 2019, Uxbridge was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) of a confirmed horse case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Town, raising the Town’s risk level to critical. In response to the elevated risk to the public’s health, steps have been taken to mitigate exposure including aerial spraying for mosquitoes which is anticipated to begin on Sunday, August 25, and continue over several evenings. However, the ability to spray is weather-dependent and the schedule may change. Officials will continue to monitor the area over the next two weeks to evaluate whether a second round of spraying may be required to achieve maximal effectiveness. For more information visit: https://www.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019for a map of spraying locations.
MDPH recommends for people in communities at critical risk for EEE to continue to take personal precautions against mosquito bites. These steps include using EPA-approved bug spray with Deet, 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. Residents are urged to sign up for Code Red via the Town’s Website at https://www.uxbridge-ma.gov/ to receive updates via telephone, text, email or all three. For more information on EEE, visit https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases.
The Board of Health is in constant contact with MDPH and will update this information if and when more information becomes available. More information on mosquito control for EEE is available on the state website at: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mosquito-control-and-spraying.
A FAQ sheet on prevention of EEE in animals may be found here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/wnv-and-eee-in-animals