Southern New England on high alert for EEE
by KATIE BENOIT, NBC 10 NEWS
(WJAR) — Southern New England is on high alert for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a virus spread by mosquitos.
Both Plymouth and Worcester counties are spraying pesticides on Tuesday.
A human case of EEE was reported in Massachusetts this year.
So far this season mosquitos have been found carrying the virus in Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts.
EEE is rare in humans, but can be very dangerous and can cause death.
Cities and towns across New England are working to combat the virus. There are also concerns about West Nile virus.
Truck-mounted spraying will take place in towns including Douglas, Sutton, and Uxbridge, which are just over the Rhode Island border on Tuesday.
Rhode Island health leaders are also asking communities to consider rescheduling outdoor activities that would happen during early morning or dusk hours to the afternoon or indoors.
Experts said you should wear bug spray when going outside.
“Using some kind of repellent that stays on reliably is going to be important,” Dawn Wesson, an Associate Professor of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University said.
Experts also said you should never use bug spray with DEET on children younger than two months old.