Mayor Correia announces Fall River mosquito spraying

Mayor Correia would like to announce that due to the anticipated influx of thousands of people for the Feast of the Holy Ghost along with the finding of West Nile virus positive mosquitoes in Fall River and nearby areas, a decision has been made (in concert with the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project) to once again spray just before and during the festival to reduce the mosquito population in that area.

According to Mayor Correia, “Weather-permitting, the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project (BCMCP) will be spraying in the vicinity of Kennedy Park for mosquitoes on Wednesday, August 22th and on Friday, August 24th between the hours of 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. As in past years, the area sprayed will be bordered by South Main, Center, Sprague, Bay, William and Hope Streets.”
The ground spraying will be performed by the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project (BCMCP) by a special spray truck as a fine ultra low volume spray between the hours of 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on each of the two different days. It contains a man-made pesticide product related to the natural components of the chrysanthemum flower, and also that found in other pesticide products used indoors in pet shampoo, lice treatments and on pets. The active ingredients of the pesticide product generally break down quickly and do not leave a toxic residue. There is not a concern about the food concessions in the area, since they will be closed, all food will be put away, and cooking utensils stored and covered during the spraying.

Furthermore, Mayor Correia would like to remind people, that as a precaution, all residents who live in the area may want to keep their windows closed and refrain from going outside between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. They may also want to shut off air conditioners unless they have a setting for recirculating indoor air. Residents are further advised to rinse any homegrown fruits and vegetables with water and to keep pets indoors during spraying to minimize their risk of exposure. However, pets that remain outdoors would not be expected to experience adverse health effects from the spraying.  Because the spray breaks down quickly in sunlight and water, no special precaution or waiting periods are recommended for outdoor swimming pools or beaches.

People are also advised to take the following measures to protect themselves from mosquito exposure:

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Use mosquito netting on baby carriages or playpens when your baby is outdoors.

Make sure screens are repaired and that screens are tightly attached to doors and windows.

Remove standing water from ditches, gutters, old tires, wheelbarrows, and wading pools.

Use mosquito repellents, making sure to follow directions on the label.

Fall River works closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and other agencies and urges residents to educate themselves about mosquito protection and take appropriate measures to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes. Further information about mosquito activity in Massachusetts during 2018 can be found on the MDPH website at Mosquito Information  . People can also call the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project at 508-823-5253 to find out what they are doing in the area and to request spraying of their property.