High Alert Due to Deadly Mosquito Virus

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A Saturday email:

High Alert Due to Deadly Mosquito Virus

Massachusetts officials are advising residents to take precautions due to an increased risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus carried by infected mosquitoes. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated the risk level for 10 communities to high or critical. In response, Plymouth County will receive aerial spraying and parts of Worcester County will have truck-mounted spraying.

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Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein highlighted that no EEE outbreaks have occurred in Massachusetts for four years, but this year's activity has heightened the risk. Residents are encouraged to protect themselves by wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, using insect repellent, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito times.

The CDC notes that while most people with EEE do not show symptoms, those who do may experience febrile illness or neurologic disease, with encephalitis being particularly severe. Encephalitis can be fatal, and survivors often require long-term care.

In response to the heightened risk, Plymouth, Mass., has closed all public parks from dusk to dawn. The state’s first human case of EEE this year was reported on August 16 in Worcester County.

New Hampshire has reported its first EEE case in a decade, with a Hampstead resident dying from severe central nervous system symptoms. This death underscores the virus's severity, as about one-third of those with encephalitis from EEE die, and survivors often face long-term disabilities.

The CDC notes that while EEE infections are rare, they can lead to serious neurological issues and there is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment. Precautions include using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito times. The virus has also been detected in mosquitoes and horses in New Hampshire, with confirmed cases this year in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Public health authorities are advising continued vigilance as the risk persists into the fall until the first frost.