**Alert Issued for Deadly Mosquito-Borne Virus in Massachusetts**
The Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE) has forced residents of Massachusetts to stay indoors, fearing the spread of this rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease. Tens of thousands of residents in the state are on high alert following the first confirmed case of the virus.
Authorities have responded by closing public parks, restricting outdoor activities, rescheduling public events, and imposing a curfew from sunset to dawn—the time when mosquitoes are most active.
Health officials in Massachusetts have warned that ten counties in the state are at high risk from this virus, which, though rare, can be fatal. According to Axios, there are currently no vaccines or treatments available for the disease, known as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or Triple E.
The virus has a mortality rate of approximately 30% among those infected, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Moreover, many survivors suffer from ongoing neurological problems.
On August 16, Massachusetts health officials reported the first human case of EEE in the state this year, involving an 80-year-old man from Oxford in Worcester County.
The state’s Department of Public Health has announced plans for aerial mosquito spraying in several areas across the state over the coming week.
The initial symptoms of EEE usually appear 3 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These symptoms include fever (ranging from 39.3°C to 41.1°C), stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy.
The Department of Public Health also noted that “inflammation and swelling of the brain, known as encephalitis, is the most serious and common complication. The illness can progress rapidly, and some patients may fall into a coma within a week.”
By/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚