The Berrien County Health Department says the rescheduled aerial spraying for mosquitoes will take place tonight. The state announced on Friday it would apply the spray to kill mosquitoes in areas that have been affected by Eastern Equine Encephalitis this year. The spraying was supposed to take place Sunday night, but weather forced its rescheduling. The Berrien County Health Department’s Nikki Britten told WSJM News last week that parts of Berrien and Pipestone townships, as well as in the village of Eau Claire, will be sprayed.
“That is where there has been demonstrated EEE activity,” Britten said. “Those areas are being targeted because we do know that at one point, there was viral activity in that area.”
Britten says the type of spray they are using, Merus 3.0, is not harmful.
“There is no residual so surfaces don’t have to be cleaned or anything like that following the spraying, and there’s no indication that there should be an impact on human or animal health.”
With so many people concerned about the spraying, Britten said those who are worried could keep their windows closed and stay inside. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services opted to spray for the first time since 1980 due to the potentially serious nature of Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The mosquito-borne illness has had a record number of cases in Michigan this year.
The Berrien County Health Department says while you may see an airplane flying over the area before sunset, it is only surveying the area, and not actively spraying. Spraying will not occur during daylight hours. The spraying starts at 8 p.m.
You can find a map of all the areas targeted for aerial spraying right here.
