News from the Board of Health
Mosquito Borne Illnesses, Summer COVID Surge, Ticks, Extreme Heat Advisory
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
From the FRCOG Public Health Team and MA Department of Public Health (MA DPH):
Throughout the summer, mosquitoes are routinely trapped and tested for diseases across the state. The prevalence of mosquitoes carrying disease tends to increase as the summer passes. In mid-July of this year, mosquitoes in Eastern Mass tested positive for two notable illnesses: West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). As of July 19, WNV has spread to seven counties, including Hampden County. As of the same date, EEE has only been detected in Plymouth County. Neither virus has been detected in Franklin County, as of yet.
While both diseases can affect anyone of any age, EEE captures headlines because it can be deadly and its survivors are often permanently disabled. Overall, it is a rare disease: In the last 85 years, there have been 115 cases of EEE in people in Massachusetts.
Yet, public health officials are keeping an eye out for increased EEE activity this summer because there was mild winter, above average rainfall, and there was EEE activity last year.
Less than 1% of people with WNV develop severe symptoms, including encephalitis or meningitis. Persons over 50 years of age have a higher risk of developing severe disease.
Although only a small percentage of mosquitoes carry disease, the best way to prevent illness is to prevent mosquito bites. FRCOG and MA DPH recommend these steps to avoid bites:
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Use insect repellents when outdoors. Repellents that contain DEET, permethrin (for clothing, not skin) or picaridin work against mosquitoes. Oil of lemon eucalyptus can provide as much protection against mosquitoes as low concentrations of DEET. Always read and follow the label’s instructions carefully.
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Wear long-sleeved clothing
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Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours from dusk to dawn during peak mosquito season
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Repair damaged window and door screens
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Remove standing water from the areas around your home. This can disrupt mosquito breeding so you can eliminate future mosquitoes—and their bites!
See further information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on mosquito-borne illnesses here, and this Daily Hampshire Gazette article, DPH: Use bug spray to guard against West Nile, EEE.
Summer COVID surge
Cases are increasing across the country and here in our region, as they have each summer since COVID began. Massachusetts DPH and the CDC recommend you protect yourself and those who are immunocompromised by being up to date with your vaccinations, staying away from others and testing when ill, masking indoors when levels are high, and improving air ventilation. For high risk individuals, consider antiviral treatment as guided by your healthcare provider.
For further current information on COVID, see these sites:
Local current COVID risk level
Your Local Epidemiologist - Current summer health concerns
Ticks
Remember that tick bites in our area can cause a number of tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and less often tularemia and other diseases. For information about prevention and tick identification, see the Conway Currents May and June issues on the town’s website. For current and detailed information, go to https://www.mass.gov/tick-borne-diseases.
Extreme Heat advisory
We experienced extreme heat levels during July and may experience more through the summer. This can cause serious illness, particularly in infants, young children, pregnant people and older adults. Learn more about how to stay cool, stay hydrated and recognize heat-related symptoms at the Massachusetts Heat Education and Alert Tools (HEAT)?Response Initiative.
Measles
The first confirmed case of measles in Massachusetts since 2020 was reported in Worcester County in early July. It was diagnosed in an adult who had recently traveled internationally. The Department of Public Health (DPH) urges anyone who does not know their measles immunization status to contact their healthcare provider to get at least one dose of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine. Learn more about measles on the DPH website.
Information on this site is focused on our shared public health. Please consult your healthcare provider for your personal healthcare guidance.
Posted: to Board of Health on Mon, Jul 22, 2024
Updated: Wed, Aug 14, 2024