With threat of EEE, Mass. conducts spraying, RI holds off

LINCOLN, RI (WLNE) – With four confirmed cases of EEE in Massachusetts, including the death of a Fairhaven woman, experts say this has been a severe season in the Bay State, while Rhode Island has seen a pretty typical year for the virus.

Communities in Southeastern Massachusetts are spraying everything they can, while Rhode Island is holding off, even though a mosquito was found with the illness in Central Falls.

According to Ken Ayars, Chief of the Agricultural Decision with the RI DEM, it’s not the time to panic and start spraying areas around the state.

“We have to weigh all the factors that go into mosquito spraying,” he said. “Presence in mosquitoes, are there human cases, are there positive horses, whats going on in neighboring states.”

Ayars said the last time Rhode Island conducted an aerial spraying similar to what’s happening in Massachusetts was in September of 1996 in Westerly.

“It’s a careful decision. One that’s made with scientists,” Ayars added.

What it comes down to is a vastly different environment just across the state line in Bristol County. Ayars said the larger presence of mosquitoes in that area is because of more wetlands that produce the insects.

“It’s a perfect environment for EEE. And it’s so much more concentrated environment for the production of mosquitoes and therefore the perpetuation of EEE,” Ayars said.

The DEM said that the threat of EEE will continue until first frost, which lands around late October.

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