A rare but deadly disease spread by mosquitoes has one town in Massachusetts closing its parks and fields each evening. Four other towns are urging people to avoid going outdoors at night.
They’re concerned about eastern equine encephalitis. State health officials announced last week a man in his 80s had caught the disease, the first human case found in Massachusetts since 2020.
The town of Plymouth, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Boston, announced Friday that it’s closing public outdoor recreation facilities from dusk until dawn each day after a horse in the town was infected with the disease.
Meanwhile, state health officials warned that a cluster of four towns south of Worcester — Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster — are at “critical risk” after a man from Oxford caught the virus.
State and local health officials urged people in those towns to avoid the peak mosquito biting times by finishing outdoor activities by 6 p.m. until Sept. 30 and then by 5 p.m. after that, until the first hard frost.
They also recommend that people across Massachusetts use mosquito repellents when outdoors and drain any standing water around their homes.
Jennifer Callahan, Oxford’s town manager, wrote in a memo that the family of the man who caught the virus in mid August had reached out to her office.
“They want people to be aware this is an extremely serious disease with terrible physical and emotional consequences, regardless if the person manages to live,” Callahan wrote.
She said the infected person had often recounted to his family how he never got bitten by mosquitoes. But just before he became symptomatic, he told them he had been bitten. She said the man remains hospitalized and is “courageously battling” the virus.
Callahan said the family is urging people to take the public health advice seriously and to do their utmost to protect themselves.
The presence of the virus in Massachusetts this year was confirmed last month in a mosquito sample, and has been found in other mosquitoes across the state since then. In a 2019 outbreak, there were six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. The outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death.
There are no vaccines or treatment for EEE.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that although rare, EEE is very serious and about 30% of people who become infected die. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.
People who survive are often permanently disabled, and few completely recover, Massachusetts authorities say. The disease is prevalent in birds, and although humans and some other mammals can catch EEE, they don’t spread the disease.
The CDC says only a few cases of EEE are reported in the U.S. each year, with most infections found in the eastern and Gulf Coast states.
Residents of Massachusetts are being urged to remain vigilant against the threat of a rare and deadly mosquito-borne virus that has been detected in the state. The Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus has been found in several towns across Massachusetts, prompting health officials to issue warnings to the public to take precautions to avoid being bitten by infected mosquitoes.
EEE is a rare but serious illness that can cause inflammation of the brain, leading to symptoms such as fever, headache, and in severe cases, seizures and coma. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, typically of the species Culiseta melanura, which is commonly found in wetlands and wooded areas.
Health officials are advising residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites, such as wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors, using insect repellent containing DEET, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito activity times, such as dawn and dusk. Additionally, residents are encouraged to eliminate standing water around their homes, as it serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
In addition to personal protective measures, towns in Massachusetts are taking steps to control the mosquito population through larvicide treatments and mosquito surveillance programs. These efforts are aimed at reducing the risk of EEE transmission to humans and preventing outbreaks of the virus in the community.
While EEE is a rare disease, it can have serious consequences for those who become infected. In recent years, there have been several cases of EEE reported in Massachusetts, with some resulting in fatalities. As such, it is important for residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
By staying informed about the risks of EEE and following recommended prevention measures, residents can reduce their chances of contracting the virus and help to keep their communities safe. It is important for individuals to take responsibility for their own health and well-being by taking proactive steps to avoid exposure to infected mosquitoes.
