A TOWN has been placed under night time lockdown, as fears around a disabling disease spread by mosquitoes ramp up.
Almost a dozen communities have also been designated at high or critical risk for the illness, after a man tested positive for it earlier this month and disease-carrying critters were spotted in the area.
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Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but potentially deadly virus that’s spread from the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Known as EEE or ‘triple E’, the virus got its name after first being spotted in horses.
But disease can be spread to people by mosquitoes who pick up the virus from infected animals.
There are currently no vaccines or medicines available to treat EEE, which about 30 per cent of those infected die from, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More on mosquito borne illness
Only a few cases tend to be reported in the United States each year, the CDC says.
But fears around the virus have placed 10 counties in Massachusetts on high alert.
The state’s health department announced on August 16 that man in his 80s had caught the virus in the town of Oxford.
It marked the first human case found in Massachusetts since 2020, after an outbreak saw 17 people infected and caused the deaths of seven.
The news came a month after Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) detected EEE-positive mosquito samples for the first time this year.
Oxford health officials recommended an outdoor curfew from dusk to dawn, which officials described as “peak biting times for many mosquitoes”.
They advised residents to stay indoors from 6pm up until September 30.
State health officials warned that a cluster of four towns – Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster – are at critical risk after the man from Oxford caught the virus.
The nearby town of Plymouth also announced that it was closing public parks and fields from dusk until dawn each day after a horse in the town was infected with the disease, putting residents at higher risk of EEE.
Health departments in neighbouring towns urged residents to avoid the peak mosquito biting times, use mosquito repellents when outdoors and drain any standing water around their homes.
DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement: “We have not seen an outbreak of EEE for four years in Massachusetts.
“This year’s outbreak and activity raise the risk for communities in parts of the state.
“We need to use all our available tools to reduce risk and protect our communities. We are asking everyone to do their part.”
In an effort to try to control the spread of EEE, officials revealed plans to conduct aerial spraying the pesticide Anvil 10+10.
Everything you need to know about eastern equine encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a virus spread to people from the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Although rare, EEE infections can be very serious.
Approximately 30 per cent of people who catch the virus die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Those who survive may continue to suffer from ongoing neurologic problems, it added.
Initial symptoms tend to show up three to 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).
They include:
- Fever
- A stiff neck
- Headache
- Lack of energy
The virus can cause Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, a complication that can be dangerous.
“The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week,” the DPH noted.
According to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of a severe infection that causes brain inflammation may include:
- Confusion
- Diarrhoea
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- High fever (higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Behavioural changes
- Seizures
The best way to protect yourself from the disease is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
Use insect repellents and wear long sleeves, long trousers and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
Remove areas of standing water around your home.
You can also consider scheduling outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Sources: CDC, DPH, Cleveland Clinic
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle said: “Due to the increased EEE risk and the first human case of the season, the state is taking decisive action to protect public health.
“Aerial spraying will target mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus.
“While these measures are crucial for reducing transmission risk, it’s vital for everyone to stay vigilant and follow personal protection guidelines to safeguard our community.”
The CDC says only a few cases of EEE are reported in the US each year, with most infections found in the eastern and Gulf Coast states.
Massachusetts health officials noted that EEE infection 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 have been from Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties.
“However, in an active year human cases can occur throughout the state.”
Outbreaks of EEE usually occur in Massachusetts every 10-20 years and typically last two to three years
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.
Symptoms of EEE include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.
People who survive are often permanently disabled, and few completely recover, Massachusetts authorities said.
The disease is prevalent in birds, and although humans and some other mammals can catch EEE, they don’t spread the disease.
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.
