City of Worcester, MA

Two Areas to Be Sprayed Sept. 6 Due to West Nile Virus Detection in Mosquito Samples

For Immediate Release: 9/5/2024 3:19 pm

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from two trap sites in Worcester: one in the Burncoat neighborhood and another near Cohasset St. The city’s WNV risk level remains Moderate.

In coordination with the municipality, the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) has scheduled truck-mounted pesticide applications on Friday, Sept. 6 after 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting), where the positive WNV insects were found. The areas to be sprayed can be viewed on the attached maps.

Residents may opt out of having their property sprayed during wide-area pesticide application by following instructions on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources website: mass.gov/how-to/how-to-request-an-exclusion-or-opt-out-from-wide-area-pesticide-applications.

Residents are advised to observe the following precautions if their area is being sprayed:

• Close street-facing windows and turn off any “outside air” settings on air conditioners.
• Keep pets inside between sunset and midnight, and do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted applicators when they are in use.
• Remain inside during the application and for 15-20 minutes afterwards.
• Wash off any vegetables from home gardens after spraying and before consuming them.

Accidental exposure is not expected to cause any health concerns in most people, although anyone who suffers from chemical sensitivities or feels that spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition should consult their physician and take special measures to avoid exposure if necessary. Accidental exposure to pets should also not cause a problem since the pesticide being used is similar to ones used for flea and tick control. Information about the products and Integrated Pest Management program used by the CMMCP is available at .

The municipality will notify residents in specific areas and neighborhoods to be sprayed via email, social media, and text. Residents interested in receiving these alerts should ensure that they are registered for ALERTWorcester worcesterma.gov/emergency-communications/alertworcester with an up-to-date email and/or phone number.

To avoid mosquito bites and the diseases they can transmit, residents are encouraged to practice the “5 Ds:”

• DRESS in long sleeves and pants when possible. Cover up during periods of mosquito activity.
• DEET is an effective insect repellent. Always follow the label instructions.
• DAWN & DUSK are mosquitoes’ most active periods.
• DRAIN water from containers weekly. Avoid standing water, such as rain collecting in open bins, buckets, or toys.

Clothing treated with insect repellent is also available, and permethrin—the repellent commonly used—can be applied to treat clothing manually. Installing and repairing screens will help to keep mosquitoes out of homes.

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms, although some may experience fever, flu-like illness, and—in rare cases—more severe illness. The Worcester Division of Public Health (WDPH) works closely with the MDPH and other agencies on monitoring WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses. If a case is detected within the city, WDPH Nursing staff will follow their regular case management procedure. Six human cases have been reported in Massachusetts in 2024.

More information from MDPH, including all WNV and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) positive results in the state, can be found at mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases, or by calling the MDPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report it to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to MDPH by calling 617-983-6800.

The CMMCP’s full 2024 spraying schedule is available at https://www.cmmcp.org/home/pages/2024-spray-schedules, and specific areas to be sprayed will be posted both on its website and phone system (508-393-3055) each day after 3:30 p.m. The scheduled dates and locations are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity, and/or special event spraying. Residential service requests have closed for the season.