Mosquitos Found with EEE and West Nile Virus in Hopkinton

Be careful if you're venturing outside in Hopkinton between dawn and dusk, mosquitos carrying the West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been found in samples taken of the mosquito population.

"The mosquitos that are carrying West Nile are more likely to bite birds than humans, but EEE is more of a concern for us because there would be human involvement,"  Director Edward Wirtanen said.

No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Hopkinton to Wirtanen's knowledge but the state Department of Health has said that a 60-year-old person from the MetroWest region has been diagnosed, although they would not specify which town the person was from.

Mosquito borne illnesses were typically found further southeast in MA than Hopkinton, Wirtanen said, but the danger is everywhere.

"Typically you see instances like this down around Easton, but this shows that you need to be careful wherever you are," he said.

He said there are probably mosquitos with the virus all over the area, but only a small sample size is tested.

"The population of mosquitos is astronomical, but the fact that e were able to find it in a sample shows that it is out there in a certain percentage," he said.

According to a release from the Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project, the spraying the area north of route 135 and west of route 85 tonight and tomorrow in response to the area where the samples were taken.

Residents in the area are advised to stay inside with their windows closed from 8 p.m. until 15 minutes after the spraying trucks come by.

"Generally there is no need to relocate during mosquito spraying," the release said. "The pesticides have been evaluated for this use and found to pose minimal risks to human health."