A mosquito rests at the bottom of a bottle with a specific insecticide during a demonstration at the CDC laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado, on April 4, 2024. AP Photo
In response to a heightened threat from a rare and potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus, a Massachusetts town has decided to close its parks and fields to visitors after dark. Plymouth, located about 40 miles southeast of Boston, made the decision last Friday due to an increased risk of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
EEE is a severe illness that mosquitoes can transmit to humans, and it has a high fatality rate ranging between 33% and 70%. The virus can lead to death within two to ten days after symptoms start, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. With such a serious health risk, officials are taking significant steps to protect the public.
The closure of the parks and fields comes after a recent diagnosis of EEE in a horse in Plymouth. This case raised the town's risk level to "high," prompting immediate action. Additionally, on August 16, Massachusetts reported its first human case of EEE for the year. This case involved an elderly man in Worcester County, which led health officials to increase the risk level in surrounding areas.
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein emphasized the severity of EEE, urging residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. "EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern," Goldstein said. "We want to remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in areas of the state where we are seeing EEE activity."
EEE is rare but extremely dangerous. The CDC reports that only about 11 human cases occur in the United States each year. However, the disease's impact can be severe, with a significant percentage of cases resulting in death or long-term neurological issues. During an outbreak in 2019 and 2020, Massachusetts saw 17 human cases and seven deaths.
To combat the risk, public health officials and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources are planning extensive mosquito control efforts. These include aerial spraying in Plymouth County and truck-mounted spraying in parts of Worcester County. By Saturday, the risk level for EEE was high or critical in ten Massachusetts communities.
In addition to EEE, at least eight municipalities in Massachusetts, including Boston, are now also considered at high risk for West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne illness. The state's health department has been monitoring the situation closely.
Amid these developments, a spokesperson for Dr. Anthony Fauci reported that the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is recovering at home after being hospitalized with West Nile virus. This situation underscores the widespread concern about mosquito-borne diseases in the region.
