States warn of mosquito-borne virus

A Massachusetts town closes its public parks and fields at night after a horse was diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, a rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease.

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a potentially fatal virus that is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The disease is rare, with an average of 11 human cases reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New measures were taken in the coastal city of Plymouth, about 40 miles southeast of Boston, after mosquitoes in the area tested positive for EEE and the state reported its first human case of the virus since 2020.

“Now that (the Massachusetts Department of Public Health) has upgraded the risk status of EEE in Plymouth to high, it is important to take extra precautions outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risks from contact with EEE,” said Michelle Bratti, Plymouth's health and human services officer.

Although EEE is rare, about 30% of cases are fatal, according to the CDC, and many survivors have lingering neurological problems. The virus is most prevalent in the Eastern and Gulf Coast states. Researchers also warn that climate change is causing mosquito populations to increase, as they thrive in warm, humid weather.

Massachusetts cities sound alarm over rare but deadly virus

In Plymouth, Massachusetts, where mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE, authorities announced Friday that they would close public parks and fields from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. The city manager also announced that public parks, fields and schools will be sprayed in the coming days.

Five years after the state's most recent outbreak in 2019, which included 12 cases and six deaths, Massachusetts is experiencing a wave of precautions against the mosquito-borne virus. The state Department of Health said the outbreak continued into 2020, with five cases and one death reported. In Massachusetts, an outbreak of EEE occurs every 10 to 20 years, lasting two to three years, according to the agency.

Earlier this month, a man in his 80s tested positive for EEE – the first case in Massachusetts since 2020 – prompting the state health department to raise the risk level for about a dozen nearby towns. Officials did not name the person but said he was infected in Worcester County.

In Oxford, a city in the county of Worcester, the local health authority has unanimously decided that outdoor events must end at 6 p.m. until September and at 5 p.m. from October until the first heavy frost.

Rike Sterrett, Oxford's director of health, stressed that the move was a recommendation, not a requirement, adding that all activities promoted by the city would follow the curfew. She noted that the recommendation had met some resistance from families with children who participate in school sports, as games and practice times could be affected.

Authorities urge caution after non-human animal cases in other states

Officials in New York are urging caution about the mosquito-borne disease after two horses in the state tested positive: one in Galen and another in Newburgh. The equine cases usually indicate that mosquitoes in the area are transmitting the virus.

Mosquito bite samples in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts have also been positive for EEE, prompting authorities to urge residents to plan outdoor activities outside of dusk and dawn. The CDC has identified three human cases this year – one each in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey.

How to protect yourself from electrical and electronic devices

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness, according to the CDC.

Most people infected with Easter equine encephalomyelitis do not develop symptoms, according to the CDC. People of all ages are susceptible to the infection, but people over 50 and under 15 are most at risk.

States warn of mosquito-borne virus

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