A rare but deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes has forced a town in Massachusetts to shut down its parks and fields every night. Four other towns are urging residents to avoid going out at night.
The municipalities are concerned about Eastern equine encephalitis. Health officials announced last week that an octogenarian had contracted the disease, the first human case discovered in Massachusetts since 2020.
Furthermore, state health officials warned that a group of four towns south of Worcester — Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster — were at a “critical risk” after a man from Oxford contracted the virus.
Protecting Against the Virus
Local and state health officials have asked residents in these towns to avoid peak mosquito biting hours by ending outdoor activities at 6 pm until September 30, and at 5 pm afterwards, until the first frost.
It is also recommended that residents use mosquito repellents when outdoors and drain any standing water around their homes.
Jennifer Callahan, the town manager of Oxford, wrote in a note that the family of the man who caught the virus in mid-August had contacted her office.
“They want people to be aware that this is an extremely serious illness with terrible physical and emotional consequences, even if the person manages to survive,” Callahan wrote.
She said the infected person had often told his family that he had never been bitten by mosquitoes. But just before becoming symptomatic, he told them he had been bitten. She clarified that the man was still hospitalized and “fighting bravely” against the virus.
The Severity of Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Callahan added that the family asked people to take public health advice seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves.
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. During the 2019 outbreak, six deaths were recorded among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. The outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Eastern equine encephalitis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that, although rare, Eastern equine encephalitis is very serious and about 30% of infected people die. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
Those who survive are often permanently disabled and few recover fully, according to Massachusetts authorities. The disease is widespread in birds, and while humans and some other mammals can catch EEE, they do not spread the disease.
According to the CDC, only a few cases of Eastern equine encephalitis are reported each year in the United States, with most infections occurring in the East Coast and Gulf Coast states.
A Fearsome Virus
The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, announced its decision to close public outdoor recreation facilities every night on Friday. The reason? A horse in the town was infected with the Eastern equine encephalitis virus. Last week, an 80-year-old man caught the virus, a first since 2020 in Massachusetts, reports ABC News. Cases that worry the state health authorities in the United States a great deal, since Eastern equine encephalitis is a disease that is rare but highly deadly.
Faced with the risk of the virus spreading, four other American towns, Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster, were at a “critical risk,” according to health authorities, after a man in Oxford contracted the disease. State and local health officials have urged residents in these towns to avoid peak mosquito biting hours by ending outdoor activities at 6 pm until September 30, then at 5 pm thereafter, until the first frost. Mandatory precautions to avoid an outbreak that could prove devastating.
A Rare but Deadly Threat
Eastern equine encephalitis is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that usually only bite horses, and therefore poses little risk of infecting humans. However, occasionally the virus is transmitted to other species of mosquitoes, which in turn can bite both humans and horses.
A person infected with the Eastern equine encephalitis virus may experience the following symptoms: fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. During an outbreak in 2019, there were six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. The disease is therefore deadly but also devastating for those who manage to survive, as patients who recover continue to have neurological problems, are often permanently disabled, and few recover fully. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30% of infected people die.
This disease was discovered in 1831, when 75 horses died from it in Massachusetts, which led to its being called “equine.” No vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is currently known, the only prevention being to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible.
Taking Precautions
The recent cases of Eastern equine encephalitis have sparked concern across the state. The virus is rare but can be fatal. As health officials continue to monitor the situation, residents are urged to take precautions and protect themselves from mosquito bites.
These preventative measures are essential to minimizing the risk of further infections and protecting the health of the community.
