Peabody To Spray For Mosquitoes At Parks, Fields After EEE Detected

PEABODY, MA — Insecticide spraying for mosquitos at Peabody parks and athletic fields will occur next week after a batch of mosquitoes recently tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in North Reading.

Peabody Health Director Sharon Cameron said on Thursday night that the targeted pesticide treatment will be on Tuesday night from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and will consist of a truck-mounted spray targeting adult mosquitoes, as well as vegetation barrier application of adulticide.

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Parks to be sprayed include Buckley Field; Burke Field; Carroll Savage Park; Connolly Park; Corbiel Park; Donahue Fields; Emerson Park; Farnham Park; Forest St. Park; Higgins Middle School fields; James St. Playground; Kennedy Fields; Kiley Field; Lalikos Park; Marrs Park; O’Connor Fields; Raddin Road Park; Ross Park; Symphony Park; MacArthur Park; McCarthy Playground; Jubilee Park; Brown Playground; Driscoll Mini Pitch.

Cameron said spraying is weather-dependent and could be delayed a day in case of rain.

The vehicle used for spraying is a mid-sized white pickup truck marked with the NEMMC seal, which will be driving slowly through the designated areas with yellow lights activated. Residents and pets should remain indoors and they should close doors and windows on the street side when the truck is in their area.

Windows can be reopened a half hour after the truck passes. Air conditioners may remain on.

"Although the risk for West Nile Virus and EEE in Peabody is considered low, the Health Department would like to remind residents that the most important way to protect yourself against mosquito-borne illness is through taking personal precautions," Cameron said. "Use insect repellent when outdoors — not just at dusk and dawn, as there are daytime biting mosquitoes, wear long sleeves or other protective clothing when outdoors, minimize outdoor activity between dusk and dawn, eliminate standing water around the home, use netting over baby carriages and outdoor playpens, and repair any holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)