2012 A YEAR FOR THE RECORD BOOKS IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Ellen Bidlack¹ & Priscilla Matton²

¹Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project

PO Box 72

Kingston, MA 02364

EBidlack@plymouthmosquito.org

²Bristol County Mosquito Control Project

140 North Walker Street

Taunton, MA 02780

brismosqpc@comcast.net

ABSTRACT

The mosquito season of 2012 will long be remembered in Massachusetts for its unprecedented Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus activity. While, EEEV was found throughout the state, in southeastern Massachusetts there were two large aerial applications designed to interrupt the EEEV cycle and reduce human risk. Populations of Ochlerotatus canadensis and Coquillettidia perturbans were high in both Plymouth and Bristol Counties and EEEV was first found in the mosquitoes on 9 July 2012 in Easton. The first aerial application took place from 20-22 July and covered 21 towns. After the application significant EEEV continued to be found. The second application took place on 16 August and covered 6 towns. After the second application EEEV continued to be found in the mosquitoes. There were 7 human cases of EEEV in Massachusetts including 2 in Plymouth County. However, there were no human cases of EEEV within the spray blocks.