Massachusetts Towns Urge Vigilance Over Rare, Deadly Mosquito Virus

A rare yet potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease has led the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, to close its parks and recreational fields during nighttime hours. Additionally, neighboring towns are advising residents to limit outdoor activities after dark.

The concern revolves around eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a serious illness that health officials confirmed last week as a man in his 80s was diagnosed with the disease. This marks the first human infection reported in Massachusetts since 2020.

Plymouth, located roughly 40 miles southeast of Boston, announced on Friday that all public outdoor facilities would be shuttered from dusk until dawn. This decision follows the infection of a horse in the area.

In a related warning, health officials declared that four towns south of Worcester—Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster—are facing a “critical risk” after a resident from Oxford contracted the virus.

Officials are advising residents to cut short their outdoor activities to avoid peak mosquito biting times. People in these areas should finish any outdoor plans by 6 p.m. until September 30, and by 5 p.m. after that until the first hard frost occurs.

Residents across Massachusetts are also being urged to apply mosquito repellent when engaging in outdoor activities and to eliminate any standing water around their homes.

Jennifer Callahan, the town manager of Oxford, shared in a memo that the family of the infected man had reached out to her office to raise awareness about the seriousness of EEE. “They want people to understand that this is an extremely serious disease with terrible physical and emotional consequences, regardless of whether individuals manage to survive,” she noted.

The infected man had previously told his family that he rarely got bitten by mosquitoes but reported a bite just before showing symptoms. Currently, he remains hospitalized and is bravely fighting the effects of the virus.

Callahan emphasized the need for the community to heed public health advice and prioritize their safety.

This year, the presence of EEE in Massachusetts was confirmed last month through a mosquito sample, and the virus has since been detected in other mosquito populations throughout the state. The previous outbreak in 2019 resulted in six deaths among 12 confirmed cases, while the following year saw five additional cases and another fatality.

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available for eastern equine encephalitis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores that, despite being rare, EEE is a grave health concern, with approximately 30% of those infected succumbing to the disease.

Common symptoms of EEE include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. Survivors often face long-term disabilities, and full recovery is uncommon, according to Massachusetts health authorities. The disease primarily affects birds, and while it can infect humans and some mammals, these animals do not transmit the virus.

The CDC reports that only a small number of EEE cases are documented each year in the U.S., predominantly found in the eastern and Gulf Coast states.