United States: The reports by the Massachusetts department of public health (DPH) indicated that a serious, rare eastern Equine Encephalitis virus had been found in mosquitoes existing in Massachusetts for the first time in 2024.
More about the news
According to the DPH statement, the people of Plymoth County were informed about EEE after detained samples of mosquitoes that breed in Carver were found to be positive to the disease causing agent on June 30.
Although no reports of human or animal infection have come so far this year, the virus presence has alerted the health care authorities, which posed a heightened risk of EEE to the people living in communities of Carver, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, and Wareham.
According to the Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein, “The last EEE outbreak cycle in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020, and since then, there have been no human cases of EEE reported in the state,” as wcvb.com reported.
More about EEE
It is a rare yet dangerously fatal disease that can pose harm equally to people of all age groups.
It is infects humans through a bite of mosquito carrying such virus. In 2019, there were twelve cases of infection came to the light, in which five were human cases, involving one case of death.
However, no cases of this infection have been reported from Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023, as wcvb.com reported.
What more have the officials warned with?
Public health personnel from Massachusetts said on Tuesday that tests also revealed that West Nile virus was also found in samples of mosquitoes for the Quincy city. It would be the first time the virus has been present in the state since the year 2024.
Moreover, health officials have also urged residents and travelers to use insect repellents, especially when going outside, as wcvb.com reported.
The warning also mentioned the peak hours, such as dusk to dawn, during which these mosquitoes are most active; therefore, wearing long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants was recommended, along with socks when one goes outside.