Regular targeted ground spraying for mosquitoes planned for New Bedford through September

The New Bedford Health Department, working closely with the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is again this year conducting an annual monitoring program to track the potential threat from EEE and WNV carrying mosquitoes.

Under the program, mosquito traps are put in place to collect pools of mosquitoes and mosquito populations are monitored throughout the summer months.

As part of the mosquito tracking program, the New Bedford Health Department will request that the BCMCP target key areas of the New Bedford for spraying, including public parks and locations that host large public events.

As such, the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project will conduct targeted ground spraying for mosquitoes early in the morning every Thursday beginning June 17, through late September. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the spraying will occur in the early hours of Friday mornings. The spraying will target areas including Buttonwood Park, Brooklawn Park, Fort Taber, Hazelwood Park, Riverside Park, Clasky Common Park, Ashley Park, the Poor Farm area, Custom House Square and the downtown area.

Spraying will take place between 2:00 am and sunrise on Thursday mornings, weather permitting; inclement weather will lead to sprayings on Friday mornings. Residents in the vicinity of the targeted areas may wish to close their windows this evening prior to the spraying.

The same precautionary measures are advised for EEE, WNV, and the Zika virus.