Small Business Lifestyle

Massachusetts health officials confirmed a second human case of eastern equine encephalitis in a resident, along with a second horse case on Thursday. The human case involves a woman in her 30s from Plymouth County, where she was exposed to the virus, according to health officials. State health officials said aerial spraying was conducted in the area earlier this week, but both the woman and the horse became infected before the operation.There were no risk level changes made to any Massachusetts cities and towns, health officials said. State health officials said there have been 76 EEE-positive mosquito samples so far this year detected from Abington, Carver, Halifax, Kingston, Marion, Middleborough, Plymouth, Rochester, Wareham, and Whitman in Plymouth County; Bedford, Raynham, Taunton, and Westport in Bristol County; Barnstable in Barnstable County; Dedham and Medfield in Norfolk County; Sudbury in Middlesex County; Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County; and Dudley and Upton in Worcester County.Mass. town-by-town look at EEE, West Nile risk levelConcern over the virus is growing among area residents. “It really makes us think about being more aware of this and more careful,” said Agnus Bevilacqua. The town of Plymouth is responding by closing parks at dusk and rescheduling school sports to earlier in the day, moving traditional Friday night football games to a 4 p.m. start. The changes have sparked mixed reactions. “It’s a pretty big tradition here on Friday nights,” said John Hilliard, who opposes the curfew. “I think the town should leave it to the individual if they want to take the necessary precautions. To penalize everyone as a whole, I just think it’s wrong.”Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but potentially deadly disease that can cause long-term physical and mental complications for survivors. There are no vaccines or treatments for EEE.”EEE can cause severe illness and possibly lead to death in any age group; however, people under age 15 and over age 50 are at particular risk,” a MassDPH statement said. “EEE does not occur every year, but based on current evidence, a high risk of occurrence of human cases exists in 2024.”A man from Oxford was diagnosed with EEE earlier this monthThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that although rare, EEE is very serious, and about 30% of people who become infected die. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.People who survive are often permanently disabled, and few completely recover, Massachusetts authorities say. The disease is prevalent in birds, and although humans and some other mammals can catch EEE, they don’t spread the disease.Earlier this week, health officials in New Hampshire announced a man had become the state’s first EEE death in a decade. The family confirmed that 41-year-old Steven Scott Perry, a lifelong Hampstead, New Hampshire, resident, died after contracting the virus.”It is with heavy hearts that the family acknowledges that Steven left those that he loved far too soon after being stricken by a sudden and rare brain infection,” Perry’s obituary read. The last human EEE infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when health officials reported three human infections, including two fatalities. In addition to the person with EEE, officials said the virus has been detected in one horse and seven mosquito batches in New Hampshire so far this summer.Family described Perry as a “devoted son, brother, uncle and friend who brought joy and laughter to all who knew him.””Steven took great pride in his career as Director of Hampstead Nursing Services working alongside his mother for many years,” his obituary read. Video: Here’s how to keep your family safe from EEE, West Nile virusMosquito safety tips from MassDPH:Avoid Mosquito BitesApply insect repellent when outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.Be Aware of Peak Mosquito HoursThe hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito BitesWearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.Mosquito-Proof Your HomeDrain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.Install or Repair ScreensKeep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all windows and doors.Protect Your AnimalsAnimal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health, by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.