--- title: The Rare But Deadly Mosquito Virus Concerning U.S. Towns description: Mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis has caused a town in Massachusetts to shut its public parks and fields from dusk to dawn. canonical: https://time.com/7014674/rare-but-deadly-mosquito-eastern-equine-encephalitis-virus-us-towns/ author: Rebecca Schneid article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-08-25T16:38:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T18:12:14.560Z article:section: Health og:title: The Rare But Deadly Mosquito Virus Concerning U.S. Towns og:description: A mosquito-borne virus has caused a town in Massachusetts to shut its parks and fields from dusk to dawn. og:url: https://time.com/7014674/rare-but-deadly-mosquito-eastern-equine-encephalitis-virus-us-towns/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2d415d4544fa4d3c/698a5a3e929fad64cbbfce93/GettyImages-509399266.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Mosquito Biting Skin og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Rare But Deadly Mosquito Virus Concerning U.S. Towns twitter:description: A mosquito-borne virus has caused a town in Massachusetts to shut its parks and fields from dusk to dawn. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2d415d4544fa4d3c/698a5a3e929fad64cbbfce93/GettyImages-509399266.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Know About the Rare But Deadly Mosquito-Borne Virus Concerning U.S. Towns > Sponsored content. 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Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators.  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Aug 25, 2024 4:38 PM UTC  A Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito on a human finger. A Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito on a human finger. CDC/William Brogdon—Getty Images  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Aug 25, 2024 4:38 PM UTC A coastal town in Massachusetts is shutting its parks, playgrounds, and fields from dusk to dawn due to concerns about the mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Plymouth put the early closures in place on Aug. 23, and advised the public to remain cautious and follow the tips found on the [Massachusetts Department of Health’s (DPH) website](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eee-eastern-equine-encephalitis). The news comes after state health officials revealed on Aug. 16 that [a man in his 80s had been infected with EEE](https://www.mass.gov/news/state-health-officials-announce-seasons-first-human-case-of-eastern-equine-encephalitis-in-massachusetts) after being exposed in Worcester County—reportedly the first human case in Massachusetts since 2020\. “As Mass DPH has now elevated Plymouth’s EEE risk status to high, it is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk of exposure to EEE,” said Plymouth’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Michelle Bratti, in a [press release](https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6479/Plymouth-Park-and-Field-Closures---EEE-Press-Release?bidId=). “The health and safety of our community, residents, and visitors remain our priority.” Worcester County in Massachusetts is also concerned about the mosquito-borne virus. On Saturday, Aug. 24, state officials announced that [they plan to spray for mosquitoes in sections](https://www.mass.gov/news/state-officials-announce-plans-to-spray-for-mosquitoes-in-sections-of-worcester-and-plymouth-counties-due-to-eee) of Worcester and Plymouth counties due to EEE. Here is what you need to know. ## **What is Eastern equine encephalitis?** [Per the Massachusetts DPH,](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eee-eastern-equine-encephalitis) EEE is very rare, but incredibly serious. Since the virus—that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito—was first identified in Massachusetts in 1938, just over 115 cases have occurred. Furthermore, outbreaks of EEE usually occur in Massachusetts every 10-20 years. The press release sent out by the town of Plymouth stated that, per the Massachusetts DPH, the “EEE fatality rate in humans varies from 33% to 70%, with most deaths occurring 2–10 days after the onset of symptoms.” Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness. According to the[ Massachusetts DPH](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eee-eastern-equine-encephalitis), inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and frequent serious complication of EEE. EEE can exacerbate quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week. Humans and some mammals are what’s known as “dead-end hosts,” meaning they do not spread the virus, even though they get sick, to mosquitoes that bite them. ## **How is Eastern equine encephalitis tested and treated?** [EEEis diagnosed](https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/eastern%5Fequine%5Fencephalitis/fact%5Fsheet.htm#:~:text=Health%20care%20providers%20diagnose%20EEE,are%20present%20in%20the%20person.) through symptoms and through testing spinal fluid or blood, which can show if the virus or viral antibodies are present in the body. There are currently no vaccines for humans or targeted treatments for EEE. Per the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/hcp/treatment-prevention/index.html), clinical management of the virus is advised. Patients with EEE require close monitoring by their health care provider, who may prescribe pain control or other treatments to deal with the specific symptoms of EEE. Overall, prevention is key. In Plymouth’s Aug. 23 notice, the city recommended certain strategies for citizens to avoid mosquito bites, including draining standing water, wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours, and installing screens in your home. They also recommended utilizing bug repellant, specifically a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient. Animal 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. ## **What U.S. towns have raised their EEE risk level to "critical" or "high"?** Four towns in Massachusetts have raised the EEE risk level to “critical”—Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster. According to the [Massachusetts Department of Public Health,](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update#eee-and-wnv-risk-level-by-city/town-) the towns of Carver, Dudley, Middleborough, Northbridge, and Uxbridge also raised their EEE risk levels to “high,” joining Plymouth. Concern is also mounting over the West Nile virus, which is primarily spread by mosquitoes. In July, multiple local health departments warned citizens after [officials detected mosquitoes](https://time.com/7002849/west-nile-virus-warnings-us/) carrying West Nile virus in states across the U.S. As of Aug. 20, the [CDC had recorded 216 cases in 33 states in 2024](https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html). On Aug. 24, [it was confirmed](https://time.com/7014635/dr-fauci-hospitalized-west-nile-virus-now-recovering-at-home/) that Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the chief medical advisor to the President from 2021 to 2022, had been hospitalized after being infected with West Nile virus. 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