Massachusetts is currently facing a serious threat from a rare but potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus known as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), or “Triple E.” State health officials have issued warnings for ten counties, which are now considered at high or critical risk.
Key Facts:
- EEE has no available vaccines or treatments, and about 30% of infected people do not survive. Those who do often face long-term neurological issues, according to the CDC.
- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed the state’s first human case of EEE this year on August 16. The patient, an 80-year-old man, was exposed in Oxford, Worcester County, roughly 50 miles west of Boston.
- Just a month before, the first EEE-positive mosquito samples of the year were detected.
Preventive Measures and Local Responses:
- Oxford health officials recommend avoiding outdoor activities from dusk to dawn, as this is when mosquitoes are most active.
- In Plymouth, located 40 miles south of Boston, public parks and fields are now closed from dusk to dawn following the diagnosis of EEE in a horse, which increased the town’s risk level.
- To combat the virus, the DPH has planned aerial mosquito spraying in parts of Plymouth County and truck-mounted spraying in sections of Worcester County starting the week of August 26.
Communities Affected by Spraying:
- Aerial Spraying: Carver, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham.
- Truck Spraying: Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton, Uxbridge.
Safety Tips for Residents:
- Residents in affected areas are urged to cover exposed skin with long clothing, use mosquito repellent, and reschedule outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours.
- Additional advice includes draining standing water to prevent mosquito breeding and ensuring screens on windows and doors are intact.
What to Expect:
- The pesticide Anvil 10+10, approved by the EPA, will be used for spraying. People sensitive to chemicals or those with respiratory conditions should stay indoors during this time.
- EEE symptoms can appear 3-10 days after a mosquito bite and may include high fever, stiff neck, headache, and fatigue. The most severe risk is encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, which can lead to coma within a week.
National Perspective:
- While EEE cases are rare, they mostly occur in eastern or Gulf Coast states. In addition to Massachusetts, New York has also reported EEE in horses across several counties, though no human cases have been confirmed there yet.
As Massachusetts faces its first EEE outbreak in four years, health officials are emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in reducing the risk. Public health commissioner Robbie Goldstein urges everyone to take precautions seriously: “We need to use all our available tools to protect our communities.”
