Massachusetts Will Start ‘Aerial Spraying’ Towns After Rare Mosquito Virus Found

Authorities in Massachusetts will start spraying for mosquitoes in two counties to mitigate the risk posed by eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) after several towns and cities issued curfews over the disease, the state’s health department announced on Aug. 24. The state health and agriculture departments will carry out “aerial spraying” in parts of Plymouth County as well as “truck-mounted spraying” in parts of Worcester County. It also noted that 10 communities in the state have “been raised to high or critical risk” for EEE, caused by a virus that is spread by certain types of mosquitoes. EEE can cause a fever and brain swelling, while about a third of people infected with it die, officials have said....