The Town of Webster has been placed at the Critical Risk Level as a result of the first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) being confirmed in Massachusetts that was detected in our immediate area. Webster's Risk Level, along with the Towns of Douglas, Oxford, and Sutton, have been raised to Critical, and in Dudley, Northbridge, and Uxbridge the risk is increased to High.
Please read the Public Health Alert and avoid being outdoors during the time period from dusk to dawn, use insect repellent and consider canceling or rescheduling outdoor gatherings, organized sporting events, etc. to avoid peak mosquito hours (dusk to dawn). The Town will continue working closely with the Central MA Mosquito Control Project for increased testing and spraying and the Health Director will be making further announcements. Please be safe!
Newsflash Update: August 20, 2024
Due to the recent finding of EEE Virus in the area and elevation to Critical risk in Webster and surrounding communities, the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) will be conducting truck-mounted ultra-low volume spraying beginning after 8:00 PM tonight, Tuesday August 20th, throughout the entire town.
Residents are urged to exert caution in area of mosquitoes and use EPA approved repellents whenever necessary. Risk from EEE will not diminish until after a hard or killing frost.
No special precautions are recommended. Truck-mounted spraying is conducted at night and the active ingredients of the pesticide product used for this application generally break down quickly and leave no residue.
Although spraying is considered necessary at this time to reduce human risk, it will not eliminate risk. It is critical that residents protect themselves from mosquito bites by staying indoors during peak mosquito hours, applying insect repellent when outdoors, draining standing water where mosquitoes breed, repairing screens, and protecting animals and pets.
Although not necessary, if people are concerned, there are steps that can be followed in areas where aerial spraying is scheduled to take place. These include:
Close windows and turn off fans in spray areas. In very hot weather, you can open the windows or turn fans back on soon after the aerial spraying is completed.
- Central air conditioners do not have to be turned off because they circulate indoor air.
- Keep pets indoors during spraying. Although pets that remain outdoors could be exposed to small amounts of pesticide, they are not expected to experience adverse health effects from the spraying. There are many pesticide products (e.g., flea collars, pet shampoo, dips) containing similar ingredients that are used directly on pets to control ticks and insects. The suggestion to keep pets indoors is to ensure that they do not get scared by the truck spraying.
- If clothes or outdoor items are exposed during spraying, wash them with soap and water.