By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Franklin County, MA) Today Governor Charlie Baker held a press conference to discuss the steps his administration is taking to fight EEE in Massachusetts. So far, there have been two confirmed positive EEE mosquitos found in Franklin County. While there is a vaccine available for horses, there is no vaccine available for humans. Last year, there were 12 EEE cases in Massachusetts and six deaths.
Early this Spring, Governor Baker introduced legislation to provide a state wide effort to fight EEE in cities and towns that are not part of a Mosquito Control District. Baker called the bill a good addition to existing mosquito control in Massachusetts. Most Mosquito Control districts are areas where there have been outbreaks of EEE. However, Baker said that last year the state saw cases of EEE in other areas of the state. Orange Massachusetts is considered a new location, and Orange is not part of a Mosquito Control District.
“Last year especially for the first time we saw outbreaks in parts of Massachusetts we’d never seen before,” said Baker.
Mosquito control interventions, such a truck mounted spraying, start in June and continue into September. The EEE legislation that was filed in April by Governor Baker would allow preventative activities in EEE hotspots that may not be part of a Mosquito Control District.