Mosquito-borne virus triggers public health restrictions in Massachusetts, sparks backlash |

Local authorities Massachusetts It has issued warnings about mosquitoes that carry Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and, in one case, restricted the use of public squares at night, sparking backlash from some residents.

Public health experts and others also worry that such mosquito-borne viruses could become more common in the U.S. because of the climate crisis.

Some Massachusetts Residents are particularly concerned about the possibility of COVID-19 restrictions being reimposed, including limits on outdoor youth sports, which were also implemented during the 2019 EEE outbreak.

“This fall season is so important because it means that COVID restrictions will be lifted and everyone will be able to play and participate and finally feel safe enough to gather in large groups,” said Jennifer Voas, a mother of two who lives in Oxford, Massachusetts. Petition It urged local health authorities not to introduce specific restrictions.

“It was very important for us to work with the town to ensure the safety of all participants, spectators and parents while continuing the season.”

EEE is a rare virus transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. In the United States, where the virus is more common in the eastern and Gulf Coast states, only a few cases are reported each year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 30% of people who become infected with the virus die, and those who survive often suffer from neurological symptoms. There is no vaccine against the mosquito-borne virus, so avoiding mosquito bites is the best prevention.

“We don't have human vaccines for these viruses, so we basically rely on vector control, mosquito monitoring, spraying insecticides, telling people not to go out after dark and to use DEET, but those aren't perfect solutions,” said Dr. Arthur Reingold, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. health.

Twelve EEE cases Massachusetts Six people died in 2019. Oxford authorities have responded to the outbreak All outdoor activities canceled City land will be closed between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when mosquitoes are most active. Freetown, another Massachusetts town, also closes public spaces from dusk to dawn. According to CNN:.

This year, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont Cases of EEE have been reported. On Tuesday, the New Hampshire Department of Health reported the death of an adult who had been hospitalized with the virus.

A family member of a person reported to have EEE in Massachusetts contacted the city of Oxford to share the person's identity, and because the person was well known locally, there was concern that “people might not take this as seriously,” said Oxford Mayor Jennifer Callahan. (The person is no longer in the critical stages of infection, but “has a long road to recovery,” she said.)

Voas, who has lived in Oxford for nine years, created a petition against the rumored restrictions ahead of the Board of Health meeting on August 21.

“This is not a safety concern or issue as EEE can be mitigated to a safe level. This is an issue of whether we can continue to play on our fields,” Voas wrote in the petition, which has garnered nearly 900 signatures.

Mayor Callahan said, Open Letter The health board notified residents that it is considering restricting access to outdoor recreational facilities and requiring private leagues to submit letters of indemnity and proof of “adequate insurance” if they continue to use public facilities and do not follow the health department's recommendations.

More than 70 people attended the Aug. 21 board meeting to voice concerns about potential restrictions, and the local government ultimately approved a measure requiring leagues to sign waivers to use stadiums after 6 p.m.

The health departments of Oxford and three surrounding towns also Issued a recommendation Residents are advised to wear insect repellent, long sleeves and long pants, and to finish outdoor activities by 6 p.m. until September 30, and 5 p.m. from October 1 onwards.

Voas said the local league would like to be able to use the field until 30 minutes before sunset, which would mean closing it down around 7:30 p.m. at this time of year.

The extra time is important, she added, because families have work and school commitments and practice often doesn't start until 5:30 or 5:45 p.m.

“It's not realistic. It would ruin our season,” said Voas, whose son plays football.

Voas said the league is in negotiations with local authorities to revise the compensation document to make it “fair for all parties involved.” In the meantime, teams are continuing to practice until 7:30 p.m.

Callahan said the city is simply educating people about the threat of the virus, urging them to “take all the precautions they can” and asking them to provide the proper paperwork.

“Nobody has said we’re going to ban anything. Anything“We haven't put a curfew on anyone,” Callahan said.

Voas said some people have been very upset at the hearing and online, but he believes the health board has good intentions.

“Obviously you don't want anyone to get it. It's a very deadly disease,” she said.

Youth sports league leaders and health officials are considering what the future of outdoor events might hold if mosquito-borne viruses become more widespread. The climate crisis and rising temperatures “may accelerate mosquito development, biting rates and the incubation period of diseases in mosquitoes,” the health ministry warned. Environmental Protection Agency report.

“The whole infectious disease community has been thinking about this,” said William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “Obviously, what happened this summer was a bit of a surprise, but I think myself and many of my colleagues are saying, 'Yes, this is finally happening.'”

Despite the threat, Reingold, the Berkeley epidemiologist, said vaccines will be difficult to develop and roll out because the diseases remain rare, and trials to see if a vaccine works will be hard to conduct. And it's unclear how many of those people will take the vaccine, since some people remain concerned about its safety in the wake of the pandemic.

Reingold said relying on insecticides and mosquito control in the U.S. is “probably a pretty rational strategy.”

Local league leaders have begun discussing what changes might be needed, including potentially playing some sports indoors.

“I don't see this problem going away,” Voas said. “We're not angry. We're not here with pitchforks and axes. At the end of the day, we're just people trying to do what's best for our community and our kids.”