VOLUNTOWN, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut environmental officials are expanding the area being closed in a state forest in response to Eastern equine encephalitis detected in human-biting mosquitoes.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Tuesday it's closing a 300-acrea area in Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown near Rhode Island. The agency announced last week it closed two campgrounds.
The state agency said it's the largest outbreak of Eastern equine encephalitis in mosquitoes since 1996.
The state also will spray the area to battle the mosquitoes.
The portion of the park to be closed and sprayed is known as the Mount Misery or Chapman area and will encompass forest interior roads and campground areas.
Pachaug is the largest state forest in Connecticut, spreading across 24,000 acres in five towns.