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State Begins Aerial Mosquito Spraying

PLYMOUTH (CBS) - The state is taking no chances with mosquitoes this summer. An aerial attack, targeting the insects in southeastern Massachusetts got underway Friday night.

The Department of Public Health found multiple EEE-positive mosquito samples in the region in recent days.

Spraying will take place between the hours of 8:15pm and 2am on Saturday night as well.

Planes carrying the pesticides took off from an airport in Plymouth.

The 21 communities being sprayed include: Acushnet, Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dighton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Freetown, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Middleborough, Norton, Pembroke, Plympton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Taunton, and West Bridgewater.

The state urges residents to stay indoors and keep windows shut during the time of the spraying.

The family of a Middleboro man infected with EEE urges others in the area to take precautions. Jeffrey Fuller nearly died after getting the virus two years ago.

"We almost lost him several times," says Maureen, Jeffrey's wife.

She is delighted that the state is spraying in several towns, but she has a message. "Even though they're spraying, you still got to use your bug spray," she says. "Protect yourselves, this only lessens the percentages, this is not a guarantee."

 

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