The Town of Acton and the Acton Board of Health report that a human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in Acton, and that the community is now at high risk for mosquito-borne infections.
The Department of Public Health notified the Town of Acton of the positive results on Thursday September 5th. This is the third reported case of EEE in Massachusetts this year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EEE is a rare but serious infection. EEE causes very few human cases each year but can be fatal. The risk of infection is highest among individuals under the age of 15 and over the age of 50.
The Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) is scheduled to spray certain streets in Acton each Wednesday until Sept. 25. Tentative spray areas can be viewed on the day of spraying on CMMCP's website here.
The Acton Board of Health will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss next steps and what the town can do to help protect residents.
The Town of Acton and the Acton Board of Health remind residents of the steps they can take to reduce their exposure to mosquito-borne viruses:
Avoid Mosquito Bites — Stay Indoors from Dusk Until Dawn, if Possible. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening, after 6 p.m. or early morning. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing. Mosquitoes can be active during daylight hours when the temperatures are cool.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it is hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Apply Insect Repellent When You Go Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants younger than 2 months old and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children younger than 3 years old.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home — Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens. Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly fitted screens on all windows and doors.
To learn more about mosquito-borne viruses, visit https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases.