lunes, 19 de agosto de 2019

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Published Date: 2019-08-18 22:02:47
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (08): (MA)
Archive Number: 20190818.6627860
EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS - USA (08): (MASSACHUSETTS)
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 16 Aug 2019
Source: CBS Boston [edited]
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/08/16/eee-human-case-massachusetts-towns-critical-risk/


The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed a 2nd human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] in the state on Friday [16 Aug 2019]. Officials also raised the risk level for EEE to "critical" in 10 more towns in central and eastern Massachusetts.

The department said the new EEE case is in a man between the ages of 19-30 in Grafton. As a result, Grafton, Hopkinton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Upton, and Westboro are all at "critical risk" for EEE.

The wife of the Grafton man diagnosed with EEE says he is in his late 20s and lives near a farm. The couple asked not to be identified but told WBZ he was diagnosed after having a seizure.

A goat in Bristol County has also tested positive for EEE, leading officials to put Easton, Norton and Raynham at critical risk as well. A total of 19 communities across the state are at critical risk now, and 18 are at high risk.

The department said it is working with local boards of health and mosquito control experts to work on "appropriate public health response activities."

"The most intense level of EEE activity is still being seen in Bristol and Plymouth Counties," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel in a statement. "However, in active EEE years, the virus may move outside of southeastern Massachusetts. This is evidence of that movement, and residents in the area of increased risk should use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities at night."

Less than a week ago, the department confirmed the 1st human case of EEE in Massachusetts since 2013. The infected man is over 60 and lives in southern Plymouth County.

So far, EEE has been found in 288 mosquito samples.

"[The] history here in Massachusetts [is that] the mosquitos test positive, but the people don't, so this is a little bit unusual," said Dr. Michael Hirsh of the Worcester Division of Public Health.

He said weather may be to blame. "Whenever there is a winter that doesn't have a really hard frost, if it's much more mild, the mosquitoes don't really ever knock off from last year."

Residents should make efforts to avoid mosquito bites, which can spread EEE, including using insect repellent, being aware of peak mosquito hours (dusk to dawn), wearing long sleeve shirts and pants when outside, draining standing water from around your home, replacing window screens, and protecting your animals from mosquitos.

EEE symptoms can range from a stiff neck, headache and lack of energy to dangerous complications like inflammation and swelling of the brain.

The risk of EEE will remain until the 1st killing frost.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>

[There was a recent human eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) case in Massachusetts, the 1st human case that ProMED-mail has posted this year (2019), and now a 2nd case in that state and the 3rd in the eastern USA.

So far this year (2019), all of the EEE cases other than in humans posted on ProMED-mail have been in horses, indicating that this has been an active EEE virus transmission season. The case above again reminds us that human cases occur as well. As usual, the equine cases have occurred in the eastern states and a midwestern state in the USA. There is a vaccine available for equine animals, and their owners are wise to have them vaccinated. There is no commercially available vaccine for humans, so avoidance of mosquito bites is the best preventive measure.

Additional information on EEE is available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/. - Mod.TY

HealthMap/ProMED map available at:
Massachusetts, United States: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/224]

See Also

Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (07): horse 20190817.6627654
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (06): (NJ) 20190817.6626825
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (05): (MA) 20190814.6621422
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (04): (NC, WI, FL) horse 20190807.6610761
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (03): (SC, MS, NJ) horse 20190727.6591645
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (02): (LA) horse 20190331.6396591
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA: (GA) horse 20190320.6377189
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