Four Massachusetts towns are under voluntary lockdowns as the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) spreads across the state.
Last detected in Worcester County in 2020, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) hospitalized one local man already this year, with the infected person , who lives in Oxford, one of the four towns under a lockdown, "courageously battling this virus ," a Wednesday memo from the town's manager said, according to Fox News Digital.
The other towns under lockdowns are Douglas, Sutton and Webster — all municipalities in Worcester County, which is located in the middle south of the state near the borders with Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Oxford's Board of Health voted on Wednesday to support the recommendation for a voluntary lockdown, which stipulates that residents should remain indoors after 6 p.m. to minimize the chances of contracting the disease through mosquito exposure.
That lockdown is in effect through Sept. 30, the public health advisory, which was shared with Fox News Digital, reveals. Then, starting Oct. 1, the recommendation changes to a curfew of 5 p.m., which will remain in effect until the first hard frost of the season.
It comes as a person in New Hampshire has died after contracting EEE. The resident, who has only been identified as an adult, had been hospitalized due to severe central nervous system symptoms, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. The infection marked the first in the state in a decade.
Statistics show that mosquitos are most active between dusk and dawn, which the notice calls "peak mosquito hours." And since all four towns are at "critical risk," implementing a voluntary lockdown and curfew could prevent the disease from spreading to more humans.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.
There have been very few cases since the first one was detected in 2020, and little is yet known about the impacts of the disease on the human body. But for the man who was hospitalized from it this year, it appears severe, and it could lead to deaths if allowed to spread unchecked.
A spokesperson for the Oxford local government told Fox News Digital in a statement, "It is the Board of Health's responsibility to protect the public health, and we take EEE very seriously, and we are strongly encouraging residents to follow these recommendations due to the severity of EEE and the fact that it is in our community."
The message continues, "So far this year in Massachusetts, there has only been one human case of EEE, but throughout the state, mosquitos have tested positive for EEE."
The town spokesperson emphasized, however, that the lockdowns are just recommendations — there will be no enforcement for residents who decide they don't want to follow the recommendations. But they put their safety and that of others at risk if they don't comply.
So, the town and other impacted municipalities are focusing on educating residents about the disease and its seriousness and making them aware of the dangers of the disease. There will be enforcement, however, for anyone wishing to use town fields or other public places outside of the curfew hours. They'll reportedly have to show evidence of medical insurance and sign an indemnification form, meaning they can't hold the town liable if they contract the disease while out.
Local schools are reportedly working to adjust their sports schedules and those of extracurricular activities so that games and practices occur before curfew hours kick in, unless the games are inside. Even so, the towns don't want residents or visitors out after the curfew hours, even to travel.
EEE is a "rare but serious disease," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it's spread through mosquito bites. Once infected, humans and other animals can't spread the disease back to other mosquitos. It's not yet clear whether they can infect other humans, but the risk seems to be such that local governments aren't taking chances.
Those with EEE reportedly suffer from fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, stiff necks, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. Symptoms reportedly occur around five to 10 days after being bitten by one of the insects. Around 30% of the people infected die, and those who survive might suffer chronic neurological deficiencies, the CDC says.
So far, EEE has been detected not only in Worcester County, Massachusetts, but also in other Eastern and Gulf Coast states. There is currently no treatment for EEE, with no vaccines available, so prevention is essential, medical experts said.
Local News
