A city has been placed under a night-time curfew as fears of a serious mosquito-borne disease grow.
Nearly a dozen communities have also been classified as high-risk or crisis areas after a man tested positive for the disease earlier this month and disease-carrying animals were spotted in the area.
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Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is a rare but potentially fatal virus transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
The virus, known as EEE or “Triple E,” got its name after it was first discovered in horses.
However, the disease can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that catch the virus from infected animals.
There are currently no vaccines or drugs to treat EEE disease, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kills about 30 percent of those infected.
More on mosquito-borne diseases
According to the CDC, only a few cases are reported in the United States each year.
But due to fear of the virus, ten Massachusetts counties are on high alert.
The state Department of Health announced on August 16 that a man in his 80s had contracted the virus in the city of Oxford.
It was the first human case identified in Massachusetts since 2020, after an outbreak infected 17 people and left seven dead.
The news came a month after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) discovered EEE-positive mosquito samples for the first time this year.
Oxford health authorities recommended an outdoor curfew from dusk to dawn, as this time is, according to authorities, “the peak biting time for many mosquitoes”.
They advised residents to stay in their homes from 6 p.m. until September 30.
State health officials warned that four cities – Oxford, Douglas, Sutton and Webster – were at critical risk.
The nearby city of Plymouth also announced that public parks and fields would be closed daily from dusk to dawn after a horse in the city contracted the disease, putting residents at greater risk from waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Health authorities in neighboring towns also urged residents to use mosquito repellent outdoors, drain standing water around their homes, and avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito bite season.
DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement: “We have not seen an outbreak of electrical and electronic equipment in Massachusetts in four years.
“The outbreak and activities this year increase the risk to communities in parts of the state.
“We must use all the tools at our disposal to reduce the risk and protect our communities. We ask everyone to do their part.”
To control the spread of electrical and electronic equipment, officials announced plans to spray the pesticide Anvil 10+10 by air.
Everything you need to know about Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a virus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Although rare, infections caused by electrical and electronic equipment can be very serious.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 percent of people who become infected with the virus die.
Those who survive may continue to suffer from neurological problems, it said.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the first symptoms usually appear three to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
This includes:
- Fever
- A stiff neck
- Headache
- Energy deficiency
The virus can cause inflammation and swelling of the brain (encephalitis), a complication that can be dangerous.
“The disease progresses rapidly and some patients fall into a coma within a week,” the DPH noted.
According to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic, the following symptoms of a serious infection that causes meningitis may occur:
- confusion
- Diarrhea
- sleepiness
- Headache
- High fever (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomit
- Behavioral changes
- Seizures
The best protection against the disease is to avoid mosquito bites.
Use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing, long pants and socks when outdoors to keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Keep mosquitoes out of your home by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all doors and windows.
Remove standing water around your home.
You may also consider planning outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Sources: CDC, DPH, Cleveland Clinic
Ashley Randle, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), said: “Due to the increased risk posed by electrical and electronic equipment and the first human case of the season, the state is taking decisive action to protect public health.
“Aerial spraying is Goal Mosquitoes that transmit the EEE virus.
“While these measures are critical to reducing the risk of transmission, it is essential for everyone to remain vigilant and follow personal protection guidelines to protect our community.”
Massachusetts health authorities pointed out that infections caused by electrical and electronic equipment in humans remain rare.
“Since the virus was first identified in Massachusetts in 1938, just over 115 cases have occurred,” the DPH said.
“The majority of cases typically came from the counties of Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk.
“However, in an active year, human cases can occur throughout the state.”
Outbreaks in the USA
According to the CDC, only a few cases of electrical and electronic equipment are reported in the United States each year, with most infections occurring in the eastern states and the Gulf Coast.
In Massachusetts, electrical and electronic equipment outbreaks generally occur every 10–20 years and typically last two to three years.
A 2019 outbreak in Massachusetts resulted in six deaths among 12 confirmed cases.
The outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and one more death.
Symptoms of EEE include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
Survivors often suffer permanent disabilities and few make a full recovery, Massachusetts authorities said.
The disease occurs primarily in birds. Humans and some other mammals can become infected with EEE but do not spread the disease.
The presence of the virus in Massachusetts was confirmed in a mosquito sample last month this year and has since been found in other mosquitoes across the state.
