The first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the area has been confirmed, raising the Rochester and Marion EEE risk level to “critical”.
State and local health officials announced the risk increase on August 10 after a resident identified only as someone living in southern Plymouth County had contracted the mosquito-born virus.
Some local media sources had further identified the unidentified person via posts to social media, including one from a family member; however, The Wanderer, out of respect for the patient’s privacy, will only further specify that the person lived in the Tri-Town.
As of press time Tuesday night, 232 mosquito samples have tested positive for the EEE virus, up from 186 this time last week.
In addition to Marion and Rochester, seven other cities and towns are now considered at critical risk for EEE, with Mattapoisett and neighboring Fairhaven remaining within the “high” risk category.
After initial ground spraying by truck last week, the state initiated aerial spraying as the first human EEE case was confirmed. Although weather hindered part of the aerial spraying operation over the weekend causing confusion as residents sought to take precautions such as closing windows and turning off air conditioners at night, the state did manage to complete the entire scheduled area Sunday night.
The critical risk level has prompted Marion and Rochester officials to close all town properties, parks, and ball fields at 6:00 pm, which resulted in the cancelation of all Thursday and Friday of the Rochester Country Fair this past week and limited the Saturday and Sunday events to 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
The Town of Marion has now canceled the annual Town Party that was scheduled for the evening of August 24.
Tri-Town boards of health and health agents are urging residents to remain vigilant in their prevention of mosquito bites and to continue to use mosquito repellant and wearing long sleeves and long pants when venturing outdoors.
Although EEE is a relatively rare disease, it is a serious one and sometimes deadly. About 33 percent of EEE infected people die, while some survivors suffer from ongoing long-term neurological effects. There are some who may contract the virus but remain asymptomatic, while those most at risk of the more serious effects of EEE are under the age of 15 or over 50.
Symptoms such as chills, malaise, fever, muscle pain, and joint pain can start between four and 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito and can last one to two weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the signs and symptoms in encephalitic patients as fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis, convulsions, and coma.
There is no vaccine to protect against the EEE virus.
By Jean Perry