BOSTON — Public health officials warned residents to be aware of the dangers of mosquito bites after Eastern equine encephalitis was detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year, in Worcester County.
The presence of EEE was confirmed Friday by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory in mosquito samples collected Wednesday at Douglas and Southbridge in Worcester County, officials said.
The recent findings raised the risk level of EEE to moderate in the Douglas, Dudley, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Uxbridge, and Webster communities of Worcester County, officials said.
“After a cycle of EEE outbreaks that occurred in 2019 and 2020, there will be no EEE activity in Massachusetts in 2021 or 2022,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein in a statement. “It is the emergence of EEE at the end of the season that should keep risk levels from increasing too much or too quickly. However, some risks of mosquito-borne diseases will continue into the first winter and people should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths and five human cases with one death in 2020, public health officials said. There are no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021 or 2022.
“Transmission of EEE to someone late in the season is possible,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown in a statement. “Mosquitoes will be more active during warm and humid weather as expected this weekend. I encourage everyone to use insect repellent when they are outdoors enjoying the last unofficial weekend of summer; You can also use clothing to cover exposed skin and if you notice you are being bitten you should consider moving indoors.”
State public health officials offer the following tips for staying safe over the holiday weekend and beyond and preventing transmission of EEE:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use repellents with EPA registered ingredients (DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), lemon eucalyptus oil [p-Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used in infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less in older children. Lemon eucalyptus oil 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 times for mosquito bites. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities for the afternoon or early morning in high-risk areas.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outside will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito Resistant to Your Home
Drain Stagnant Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Limit the number of places around your home where mosquitoes can breed by drying or removing items that collect water. Check gutters and rainwater drains. Empty unused flower pots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screen. Keep mosquitoes away by installing tight screens on all windows and doors.
Protect Your Pets
Pet owners should reduce the potential for mosquito breeding sites on their property by removing standing water from containers such as buckets, tires and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water tanks provide an excellent habitat for mosquito breeding and should be removed at least once a week during the summer to reduce mosquitoes near the paddock area.
Horse owners should keep their horses in indoor pens at night to reduce the risk of exposure to mosquitoes.
Owners should also talk to their vet about insect repellents approved for use on animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile and EEE viruses. If any animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, the owner must report it to the Department of Agricultural Resources, the Animal Health Department by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
More information, including all positive WNV and EEE results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information in Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases web page | Mass.gov, which is updated daily, or by calling DPH’s Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates when more information becomes available.
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2023-09-03 19:11:54
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