By JULIE CUNNINGHAM and CHRIS COLLINS
(Boston, MA) – A new bill designed to monitor mosquito-borne illnesses is headed to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
The “Act To Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth” was prompted by the detection of “Eastern Equine Encephalitis” in trapped mosquitoes in Wendell and Orange–the earliest arrival of the virus in 20 years. The new law will allow the Commonwealth to regulate, manage, and control the mosquito population and report on mosquito borne illnesses in the state.
It also allows the state to review and make recommendations on issues such as pest management, the use of pesticides, protecting organic agriculture from pesticide use, and developing procedures to protect human and ecological health, among others. It also gives broad discretion to the Department of Public Health in combating the spread of both Triple E and the West Nile Virus, which has also been detected in trapped mosquitoes in other parts of the state.
To view the bill in its entirety click here.