Trucks toting the man-made pesticide Anvil sprayed the chemical in several towns in the southern part of the state, including Milton, Norton, and Easton, where people had complained of a high number of mosquitoes.

Since 2004, there have been 13 reported cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, a mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause flu-like symptoms, inflammation of the brain, coma, or death. Six of the 13 cases in Massachusetts resulted in fatalities. In 2005, six people contracted the West Nile virus, a less deadly but still dangerous mosquito-borne virus that can cause permanent neurological problems.

Mosquitoes carrying the virus typically do not appear until later in the season, when the virus has had more time to spread in the bird population, which carries both West Nile and EEE. There have been no reports of mosquitoes carrying either West Nile or EEE yet, officials said.

Source: www.boston.com