FRAMINGHAM, MA -- The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will use a helicopter to apply a bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) over wetland areas located in Framingham, April 19-30, 2021, between dusk and 11:30 p.m.

The application is scheduled for Framingham's wetlands that are located in the vicinity of Angelica Drive, Callahan State Park, Fairbanks Road, Palmer Road, and Walnut Street.

Bti will be applied in a granular formulation by a helicopter flying low directly over the wetlands. Bti is a natural bacterium found in soil. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies Bti as a relatively non-toxic pesticide. Bti is considered a target selective and environmentally compatible pesticide that affects mosquito larvae and a few closely related aquatic insects in the fly family. Once applied, Bti stays suspended in water for 24 to 48 hours and then biodegrades as it settles to the bottom. The Bti product name is VectoBac GS (EPA Reg. #73049-10). Residents do not need to take any special precautions for this application.

The virus that causes Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is spread through an infected mosquito bite. In Massachusetts, the virus is most often identified in mosquitoes found in and around freshwater swamps. EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages.

If residents have any questions about mosquitoes or mosquito control, contact the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project at 781-899-5730.

Information about EEE, West Nile Virus, and reports of current and historical mosquito-transmitted virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

Source: City of Framingham media alert