A town in Massachusetts has closed its parks and fields to nighttime visitors, due to the heightened risk of the mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), also known as Triple E.
Moreover, four other towns in Massachusetts are urging people to avoid going out at night amid growing concerns over the rare deadly virus, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Raising Triple E Risk Level
On Friday, the town of Plymouth, located 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Boston, announced the closure of public outdoor recreational facilities daily from dusk till dawn because of the high risk of EEE status in the town after a horse was diagnosed with the disease.
This comes after the Massachusetts Health Department (DPH) announced on August 16, 2024, the first human case of the Triple E virus this year for a man in his 80s, the first human case found in Massachusetts since 2020.
The Massachusetts public health commissioner, Robbie Goldstein, said in a press release: “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern. We want to remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in the areas of the state where we are seeing EEE activity.”
The DPH has raised the risk level to “critical” in the towns of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster, while increasing the risk level to “high” in Dudley, Northbridge, and Uxbridge.
Fatal Disease
The EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease. It affects people of all ages. The virus spreads to humans through the bites of an infected mosquito. The Triple E fatality rate in humans ranges between 33% and 70%, according to the Town of Plymouth press release. Most deaths occur within 2-10 days from the onset of symptoms.
The disease’s symptoms include headache, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and behavioral changes. Furthermore, the EEE virus causes long-term physical and mental complications among survivors, including permanent neurological deficits.
Although the disease infects humans and some mammals, they do not spread the virus. Triple E is diagnosed through symptoms and blood or spinal fluid testing. For now, there are no vaccines or treatment for the virus.
Triple E in Massachusetts
The EEE virus was first identified in Massachusetts in 1938. Since then, nearly 115 cases have occurred. The outbreaks in Massachusetts usually occurs every 10-12 years. The presence of the Triple E in the state this year was confirmed in July in mosquito samples.
During an outbreak in 2019-2020, there were 17 reported human cases and 7 deaths in Massachusetts, according to the DHP. However, there were no human cases in the state in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
Meanwhile, the average reported human cases of EEE in the US annually is 11 cases, with most cases in the eastern and Gulf Coast states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prevention Measures
The Massachusetts DPH outlines some precautions for people to avoid infection and protect themselves from mosquito bites. These include using insect repellent when outdoors, and avoiding outdoor activities during mosquito peak biting times that last from dusk until dawn. It is also recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors to protect skin from mosquito bites.
Furthermore, people should drain standing water around their homes, because standing water offers a favorable breeding environment for mosquitos. They should also install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.
Plymouth’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Michelle Bratti, said: “As Mass DHP has now elevated Plymouth’s EEE risk status to high, it is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk to exposure to EEE.”
