- Towns in Massachusetts set a curfew to avoid huge virus outbreaks
- EEE is a serious and often deadly disease
- From dusk to dawn is mosquitoes' peak time, but how do they find us?
Towns in Massachusetts set a curfew to avoid huge virus outbreaks
Recent issues with mpox and other disease outbreaks and more severe cases getting detected in various parts of the world and in different states of the US caused the need of precaution. Viruses that mosquitoes can spread around can be hazardous and lead to massive losses of people.
A rare but possibly lethal mosquito-borne virus has caused two dozen towns in the country to close public parks at night and restrict other outdoor activities. This is because mosquitoes are more active at night. No vaccines or medicines are available to treat this considered very serious disease.
Triple E, the disease that can result in many deaths, has become an issue in Massachusetts, particularly. Ten communities in the state are not considered at high risk or critical risk for eastern encephalitis, or EEE, which spreads via the bite of an infected mosquito[1].
People are alert after mosquitoes in the area tested positive for EEE. The state also reported the first human case of the virus, which has not occurred in humans since 2020. Public health officials in Plymouth, Massachusetts, have confirmed a case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse, which has raised the town's risk level for the disease to high. The first human case in this outbreak was diagnosed on August 16 in a man in his 80s.
EEE is a serious and often deadly disease
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, between 33% and 70% of those infected will die, usually within two to 10 days after symptoms start. Symptoms of the virus include diarrhea, fever, headache, seizures, and vomiting, according to the CDC.
"EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern," said Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. He urged residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in active EEE areas[2].
To help control the spread of the disease, officials are using aerial spraying of the pesticide Anvil 10+10, which the EPA approves for mosquito control in the U.S. State health officials also recommend avoiding outdoor activities in the evening when mosquitoes are most active until the end of September.
This is not the first EEE outbreak in Massachusetts. In 2019 and 2020, there were 17 reported human cases, resulting in seven deaths. Although EEE is rare, with only about 11 cases reported annually in the U.S., state health officials also warn about the West Nile virus risk in eight Massachusetts municipalities.
West Nile has been reported in over 30 states, and Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was recently infected. He is currently recovering at home after a six-day hospital stay[3].
From dusk to dawn is mosquitoes' peak time, but how do they find us?
The public health advisory decided that a few towns are at risk, and these rules should help people avoid viruses that these insects spread around. The lockdown is voluntary, but residents must follow these advisory lists to mitigate the risk. Other measures might be enforced.
One of the goals is to educate residents. According to the CDC, the virus is pretty common but serious, so only a few cases can create other issues. Evening lockdowns aim to reduce exposure and that is extremely important since preventative measures is all we have when there are no vaccines.
We know these insects are more active at specific times of the day, but how they find us and how they could be prevented in other ways. It is believed and pretty much reported that body heat attracts mosquitoes to people. This is how insects find people and get to bite them.
Experts say that body heat is even more powerful than we think. During the research, insects were drawn to people emitting more heat. Insects are also drawn to specific colors and scents, so avoiding strong perfumes might help prevent bites[4].
It has also been revealed that mosquitoes are the leading carriers of infectious diseases. Mosquito-borne malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths each year, and it spreads more than 100 million cases of diseases like dengue, yellow fever, and Zika virus.
These findings about mosquitoes' attraction could help build better traps for them, and adding heat to other clues that they like might improve preventative methods. As for humans, loose-fitting clothes can help prevent mosquito bites, and insects cannot find body heat through looser clothes. Remember this when mosquitoes get more active.
