Oxford records first human case of electrical and electronic equipment since 2020 – Sentinel and Enterprise

OXFORD – Days after it was announced that the state had its first human case of electrical and electronic equipment exposure in four years, the city has recommended that sports training sessions be held outside of the evening hours and moved indoors whenever possible.

Oxford is one of four cities where the state health department raised the risk level for electrical and electronic equipment to “critical” last Friday after an 80-year-old man came into contact with a mosquito infected with the disease. Oxford's neighboring cities of Sutton, Webster and Douglas are also at critical risk.

The recommendation to end outdoor activities before the “peak mosquito bite period” – that is, before 6 p.m. until September 30 and before 5 p.m. from October 1 until the first severe frost – came on Wednesday during a heated meeting of the health authority.

Oxford schools will follow the recommendation. As the chair of the health department, Kerrie Singer, and the director of public health, Rike Sterrett, stressed, this is not a ban on outdoor activities after these times.

“The hope is that if possible, they will move the activities to those indoor spaces or move the practices forward or move them to the weekend,” Sterrett said. “I understand that's not ideal for anyone, but we're taking this really seriously.”

Private and recreational leagues or organizations that choose to use city property and do not follow the recommendations must “complete and submit an indemnity form and provide proof of adequate insurance coverage to both the Recreation Commission and the Town Manager's office.”

This is according to a memo that city administrator Jennifer Callahan wrote to the health department. In it, she explained that she had been in contact twice in the past week with a family member of the man who had been diagnosed with the disease. The man is still in the hospital and is “courageously battling this virus,” she wrote.

“They want people to know that this is an extremely serious illness with terrible physical and emotional consequences,” Callahan wrote of the family. “They want residents to take public health recommendations … seriously.”

Other safety recommendations include using insect repellent and sealing homes against mosquitoes, as recommended by the state health department. Sutton, Webster and Douglas have also implemented the guidelines.

Singer said the board learned last Friday that the risk for electrical and electronic equipment had been upgraded to critical, and Wednesday's meeting marked the first discussion of the development and protocols.

“I would ask you to give us the opportunity to discuss this and not to interrupt us during this meeting,” she said. “I think it would be very enlightening for you to hear what we have to say and you would be informed about it.”

Within minutes, Singer found himself in conversation with a resident, repeatedly saying, “I'm going to ask you to sit down while we proceed.” The resident responded, “Madam, I just want to make sure we're heard tonight,” and then, “Madam, I'm trying to be as professional as I can.”

Singer did not allow public comment and called questions from residents a “violation of the open session.” The board chair adjourned the meeting for about 10 minutes.

Before Oxford was classified as critical risk, mosquito traps were used to collect samples in the state about every two weeks. Now the traps are being used much more frequently, Sterrett said.

Although EEE is rare, government health officials say it is a serious and potentially fatal condition that can affect people of all ages.

In 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts, resulting in six deaths, and in 2020, there were five human cases, resulting in one death. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Early symptoms include high fever, stiff neck and lack of energy, which typically appear within 3 to 10 days after being bitten by a mosquito infected with EEE, Sterrett said. Symptoms can progress to encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, she said, adding that 22 people have died from it in Massachusetts in recent decades.

“People who survive triple E are often left with permanent disabilities because of the neurological damage,” Sterrett said. “Very few people who get triple E and are diagnosed make a full recovery. So, knowing all this, we take this very seriously.”