Eastern equine encephalitis, a rare and deadly disease with a 30 percent mortality rate, has Northeastern United States in Massachusetts, AP reported Tuesday. In order to avoid the spread of the epidemic, 4 high-risk towns from 21 to implement a night blockade.
Massachusetts health officials announced last week that a man from Oxford had contracted the disease, the first human case in the state since 2020. Officials said towns such as Douglas, Oxford, Sarton and Webster were in “Serious danger” and had imposed overnight blockades in the hope of containing the virus. Jennifer Callahan, the mayor of Oxford, said the family of the infected man had contacted the government and that he was in hospital “Fighting the virus” and that mosquitoes had tested positive across the state, residents are therefore strongly advised to comply with the closure measures.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Eastern equine encephalitis. Although it is rare, the disease is severe, with symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and epilepsy, and about 30 percent of infected people die, the CDC said. The state of Massachusetts also says that people who survive Eastern equine encephalitis tend to be permanently disabled, with few making a full recovery.