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Mass. Authorities Catching Record Number Of Mosquitoes

BOSTON (CBS) - With the wet June we had in Massachusetts, you knew this was coming: a large number of mosquitoes are being found. In some parts of the state, huge numbers of the mosquitoes have West Nile Virus.

"This could be record-breaking," says Tony Teixeira of the Plymouth County Mosquito Control District, "we're finding large numbers of the species that carry West Nile. People have to be diligent."

In Norfolk County, they haven't found huge numbers of West Nile carrying mosquitoes, but large numbers of other mosquitoes, despite ground spraying almost daily.

"Starting with the wet June, mosquitoes increased dramatically," says Dave Lawson of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District, "and the way it is now, we're expecting West Nile."

Barbara Frances isn't taking any chances. She's having 20 new windows put in her house this summer, and stopped by the Plymouth offices of the Mosquito District to ask that they spray around her home, just before the work starts. "They're taking the windows out, including the frames and that leaves 20 openings for mosquitoes to get in. That's why I want the area sprayed."

But the good news in all of this is that no Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been discovered and that's a mosquito-transmitted disease that has a 50% fatality rate.

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