State health officials are urging residents in several northern Vermont towns to avoid spending time outdoors during certain periods due to an increased risk of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness.Alburgh, Burlington, Colchester and Swanton are the areas identified as having the highest risk for mosquitoes carrying eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEEV, following extensive testing this season.The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets and the Department of Health issued a joint statement on Wednesday recommending that residents in these areas should limit time spent outdoors between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. to decrease exposure to mosquitoes. This is the time of day when mosquitoes are most active, according to experts.This recommendation will be in place until the first hard frost that kills mosquitoes, according to experts.Vermont has seen higher numbers of mosquitoes testing positive for EEEV this year compared to previous years, according to the health department. So far, only one person in Vermont, a Chittenden County resident, has been infected with EEE this summer. That person was treated and released in July.EEEV has also been detected in neighboring states, including a person in Massachusetts who became infected and another person in New Hampshire who later died from the virus.This season, there have already been 47 groups of mosquitoes that tested positive for EEEV across 11 towns, compared with 14 groups across three towns that tested positive in 2023. “Vermont data, and current virus activity around New England, shows we need to take the threat of EEE very seriously,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine in a prepared statement. “If you live in a town at high risk, please avoid spending time outside in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active to protect yourself from this potentially severe illness.”The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has been increasing its collection efforts of mosquitoes. Additional testing could increase the number of towns at high risk in the coming days and weeks, officials said.Towns at moderate risk include Milton, Vergennes, Sudbury and Whiting. Low-risk towns include Cornwall, Grand Isle, Highgate and Fairfield.EEE is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. EEE can result in encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, and can be fatal in about one-third of people who develop severe EEE disease. Most people infected with EEEV do not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a flu-like illness with fever, chills, body aches and joint pain.You can limit exposure to mosquito bites by doing the following:Use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellentWear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoorsfix holes in screens to prevent insects from entering your homeMore resources can be found here.
State health officials are urging residents in several northern Vermont towns to avoid spending time outdoors during certain periods due to an increased risk of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness.
Alburgh, Burlington, Colchester and Swanton are the areas identified as having the highest risk for mosquitoes carrying eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEEV, following extensive testing this season.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets and the Department of Health issued a joint statement on Wednesday recommending that residents in these areas should limit time spent outdoors between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. to decrease exposure to mosquitoes. This is the time of day when mosquitoes are most active, according to experts.
This recommendation will be in place until the first hard frost that kills mosquitoes, according to experts.
Vermont has seen higher numbers of mosquitoes testing positive for EEEV this year compared to previous years, according to the health department. So far, only one person in Vermont, a Chittenden County resident, has been infected with EEE this summer. That person was treated and released in July.
EEEV has also been detected in neighboring states, including a person in Massachusetts who became infected and another person in New Hampshire who later died from the virus.
This season, there have already been 47 groups of mosquitoes that tested positive for EEEV across 11 towns, compared with 14 groups across three towns that tested positive in 2023.
“Vermont data, and current virus activity around New England, shows we need to take the threat of EEE very seriously,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine in a prepared statement. “If you live in a town at high risk, please avoid spending time outside in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active to protect yourself from this potentially severe illness.”
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has been increasing its collection efforts of mosquitoes. Additional testing could increase the number of towns at high risk in the coming days and weeks, officials said.
Towns at moderate risk include Milton, Vergennes, Sudbury and Whiting. Low-risk towns include Cornwall, Grand Isle, Highgate and Fairfield.
EEE is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. EEE can result in encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, and can be fatal in about one-third of people who develop severe EEE disease.
Most people infected with EEEV do not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a flu-like illness with fever, chills, body aches and joint pain.
You can limit exposure to mosquito bites by doing the following:
More resources can be found here.
