A man contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus in mid-August in Massachusetts, USA.
This very rare but fatal disease is transmitted by a mosquito found in North America.
Authorities have taken measures to eradicate it, such as closing public parks.
Closed parks, no nighttime outings… For several days, residents of Massachusetts, in the eastern United States, have been living under the threat of a mosquito carrying the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus. This rare but deadly disease was diagnosed in an octogenarian, currently being treated in hospital, on August 16. Since then, the authorities have been on alert. And for good reason: according to the Massachusetts Health Agency, 30% of infected people do not survive.
While this contamination is the first since 2020, radical measures have been taken in the ten cities placed in “high risk” or “critique”. In Plymouth, in the north of the state, public parks and gardens have been closed at night since August 23. 130 km away, the city of Oxford advises its residents against any sporting activity after 6 p.m. Other localities also recommend not going out after dark, as reported by the media ABC News.
Significant neurological after-effects
To eradicate the mosquito, aerial spraying has begun since the beginning of the week. In Worcester County, these operations are even carried out with trucks loaded with the repellent product in the air. They take place “late at night” or “early in the morning” and residents should not go outside at these times. The authorities assure that everything is being done to avoid new infections and call for increased prevention: “It is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk. The health and safety of our community, residents and visitors remains our priority.”Plymouth Health Commissioner Michelle Bratti said in a statement.
Symptoms associated with the equine encephalitis virus appear two to ten days after the mosquito bite and can be numerous in humans: fever, muscle pain, headaches, convulsions, fatigue, etc. The health of sick people often deteriorates rapidly. During the last epidemic in the region, between 2019 and 2020, seven deaths were recorded among the 17 identified cases. Some people have been left with significant neurological after-effects.
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The EEE virus is transmitted by the Culiseta melanura mosquito, also known as the black-tailed mosquito. According to the Massachusetts Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is “present in North America and the Caribbean”. It mainly infects horses and more rarely humans. No treatment or vaccine currently exists against this disease.
Residents of the East Coast of the United States should therefore follow some simple advice to avoid attracting this mosquito: remove stagnant water from their garden, wear long sleeves and pants to avoid being bitten, or install mosquito nets on the windows.
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