Massachusetts health officials reported Monday that a person has contracted the potentially dangerous mosquito-borne illness, Eastern equine encephalitis, for the fourth time this year.This case involves a man in his 50s, who was exposed in a part of Middlesex County already designated to be at high risk for EEE.”This year’s EEE season has been particularly active and is generating a lot of concern in communities across Massachusetts,” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said. Link: DPH mosquito-borne virus risk mapsMassDPH officials said two cases of EEE were identified in horses and 91 EEE-positive mosquito samples so far this season. “While EEE remains a rare disease, the risk level is elevated in multiple communities. With the weather forecast showing warm, sunny weather for the rest of the week, we recommend that people take necessary precautions in areas of elevated risk,” Goldstein said. “This includes recommending that residents and towns in areas at high risk for EEE reschedule their evening outdoor events to avoid peak mosquito biting hours from dusk to dawn.” EEE is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms show up three to 10 days after a bite and can include fever, stiff neck, headache and lack of energy. Inflammation and swelling of the brain are the most dangerous and frequent complications. There is no treatment for EEE, and about half of the people ever identified with EEE in Massachusetts have died, health officials say. The last outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020 and resulted in 17 human cases with seven deaths.Mosquito safety tips from MassDPH:Avoid Mosquito BitesApply insect repellent when outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.Mosquito-Proof Your HomeDrain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all windows and doors.Protect Your AnimalsAnimal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
Massachusetts health officials reported Monday that a person has contracted the potentially dangerous mosquito-borne illness, Eastern equine encephalitis, for the fourth time this year.
This case involves a man in his 50s, who was exposed in a part of Middlesex County already designated to be at high risk for EEE.
“This year’s EEE season has been particularly active and is generating a lot of concern in communities across Massachusetts,” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said.
MassDPH officials said two cases of EEE were identified in horses and 91 EEE-positive mosquito samples so far this season.
“While EEE remains a rare disease, the risk level is elevated in multiple communities. With the weather forecast showing warm, sunny weather for the rest of the week, we recommend that people take necessary precautions in areas of elevated risk,” Goldstein said. “This includes recommending that residents and towns in areas at high risk for EEE reschedule their evening outdoor events to avoid peak mosquito biting hours from dusk to dawn.”
EEE is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms show up three to 10 days after a bite and can include fever, stiff neck, headache and lack of energy. Inflammation and swelling of the brain are the most dangerous and frequent complications.
There is no treatment for EEE, and about half of the people ever identified with EEE in Massachusetts have died, health officials say.
The last outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020 and resulted in 17 human cases with seven deaths.
Mosquito safety tips from MassDPH:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
Apply insect repellent when outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all windows and doors.
Protect Your Animals
Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
