High Mosquito Borne Encephalitis Risk Prompts Massachusetts Town To Close Parks Fields At Night

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Massachusetts Town Closes Parks at Night Due to Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk

Residents Advised to Avoid Outdoor Activity After Dusk

Municipal Parks and Fields Off-Limits to Nighttime Visitors

A Massachusetts town has closed its municipal parks and fields to nighttime visitors due to an elevated risk of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare but potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease.

The town of Easton, located about 25 miles south of Boston, announced the closure on Monday, August 15, after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) raised the risk level for EEE in the area to "high."

EEE is a rare but serious disease that can cause inflammation of the brain. Symptoms of EEE can include fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. In severe cases, EEE can lead to coma and death.

The MDPH recommends that residents avoid outdoor activity after dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Residents are also advised to wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and to use insect repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered repellent.

In addition to Easton, four other towns in Massachusetts have advised residents to avoid outdoor activity after dusk: Bridgewater, Norton, Raynham, and West Bridgewater.

The MDPH is urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves from EEE. For more information on EEE, please visit the MDPH website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee.

Questions and Answers

  1. What is EEE? EEE is a rare but potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease that can cause inflammation of the brain.
  2. What are the symptoms of EEE? Symptoms of EEE can include fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and confusion.
  3. How can I protect myself from EEE? The MDPH recommends that residents avoid outdoor activity after dusk, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and use insect repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered repellent.

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