BOSTON (WHDH) -- The following is a release from The Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding the schedule for aerial spraying of pesticides against mosquitoes in the southeastern part of the state this weekend.

SCHEDULE FOR AERIAL SPRAYING FOR

MOSQUITOES IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Residents advised to stay indoors, close windows during scheduled time of spraying

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today released additional details regarding the schedule for aerial spraying of pesticides against mosquitoes in the southeastern part of the state this weekend. A total of 21 communities are scheduled to be sprayed over the course of two evenings. Aerial spraying is heavily dependent on weather conditions, and spraying can be postponed up to the last minute – so residents are urged to check the DPH website at www.mass.gov/dph for the latest updates.

Spraying will take place between the hours of 8:15pm through 2am on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Communities that will be sprayed include: Acushnet, Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dighton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Freetown, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Middleborough, Norton, Pembroke, Plympton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Taunton, and West Bridgewater.

Residents of these communities, and who live within 1500 feet of the border of any of these communities, should take simple precautions to avoid exposure to pesticide during the time that their city or town is scheduled to be sprayed:

• Stay indoors, keep your windows closed, and turn off window fans during the time spraying occurs. If your air conditioner has a fresh air intake feature, you may want to shut off the intake during the time of spraying.

-more-

Schedule for Aerial Spraying, page 2 of 2

• Keep pets indoors when spraying is occurring in your immediate area to minimize their risk of exposure.

• If skin or clothes or other items are exposed to the sprayed pesticide, wash with soap and water.

• If the spray gets in your eyes, immediately rinse them with water or eye drops, and call your doctor.

• If you have a small ornamental fish pond, you may want to cover it during the night of spraying.

• Following the aerial spray, rinse any homegrown fruits and vegetables with water.

Weather conditions including temperature, wind speed and precipitation can impede aerial spraying activities. Residents in all 21 communities are urged to check the DPH website at www.mass.gov/dph for updates throughout the spraying event. Residents can also get a daily 5pm update on spraying activities by calling 2-1-1.

Aerial spraying of pesticides reduces but does not eliminate the risk of mosquito-borne illness. All residents, whether inside or outside the spray zone, are urged to continue taking personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. These include using insect repellent, covering exposed skin when outside, and avoiding outdoor activities between the hours of dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are at their most active.

State officials made the decision to conduct aerial spraying following the detection of multiple EEE-positive mosquito samples in southeastern Massachusetts in recent days.