Massachusetts: Warning over deadly mosquito-borne virus
Health officials in Massachusetts have warned that ten counties in the state are at high or critical risk for the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, a rare but potentially fatal virus transmitted by mosquitoes.
General overview: Currently, there are no vaccines or treatments for EEE, also known as „Triple E.“ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30% of those infected die, while many survivors suffer from permanent neurological problems.
New information: The first human case of EEE in Massachusetts this year was recorded on August 16 when a man in his eighties from Oxford, Worcester County, was exposed to the virus. This followed just over a month after the first mosquitoes positive for EEE were detected in the state.
Officials in Oxford have recommended an outdoor curfew from dusk to dawn, as that is when mosquitoes are most active. In Plymouth, where an EEE infection was recently diagnosed in a horse, the risk level has been raised to high, which is why all public playgrounds and fields will be closed from dusk to dawn.
Preventing the spread: The Massachusetts Department of Health plans to conduct aerial mosquito spraying in areas of Plymouth County and truck-mounted spraying in parts of Worcester County during the week of August 26.
Residents of the affected communities are urged to cover their skin with long clothing, use mosquito repellents, and consider postponing outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active. It is also advised to remove standing water and install protective screens on windows and doors.
Conclusion: The first symptoms of EEE appear 3-10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and include high fever, stiff neck, headache, and loss of energy. Inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, is the most dangerous complication.
SOURCE: AXIOS PHOTO: PIXABAY
