In an effort to mitigate the spread of a potentially lethal mosquito-borne disease, four towns in Massachusetts – Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster – have implemented a voluntary evening curfew. This action follows the confirmation of the first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Worcester County since 2020 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).
The Oxford Board of Health, on Wednesday, endorsed the recommendation for residents to stay indoors after 6:00 p.m., effective immediately and lasting until September 30, as per a public health advisory. Starting October 1, the advisory suggests residents remain indoors after 5:00 p.m. until the first hard frost. The advisory identifies these four towns as being at “critical-risk.”
The Board of Health is committed to safeguarding public health, and as such, takes the threat of EEE very seriously. Residents are strongly urged to adhere to these recommendations due to the severity of EEE and its presence in the community, according to a spokesperson for the town of Oxford. So far, Massachusetts has reported only one human case of EEE this year, but mosquitoes throughout the state have tested positive for the virus.
The individual infected with the virus, a resident of Oxford, is currently hospitalized and bravely fighting the virus, as per a memo from the Oxford town manager. The evening curfews are recommendations and there will be no penalties for non-compliance. The aim is to raise awareness about EEE and its severity, and to inform residents of the associated risks.
If residents wish to use town fields outside the recommended hours, they will be required to provide proof of insurance and sign an indemnification form. The four critical-risk communities are working together, issuing the same recommendations. Schools are adjusting their sports schedules to ensure practices and games take place before the recommended evening curfew times and on weekends.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only a few cases are reported in the U.S. each year, primarily in the Eastern or Gulf Coast states. Humans and other animals that contract the virus are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they cannot transmit the virus to mosquitoes that bite them.
Symptoms of EEE, which typically appear five to ten days after being bitten, include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness. The disease can be fatal, with a mortality rate of 30% among infected individuals. It can also result in chronic neurological deficiencies.
Prevention measures include educating the public about the risk, encouraging the use of mosquito repellent, and spraying to reduce the mosquito population. There is currently no vaccine for EEE, so prevention of mosquito bites is the best way to avoid infection.