In an attempt to curb the spread of the potentially lethal Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease, several Massachusetts towns have implemented voluntary evening curfews.
The Oxford Board of Health, in a proactive move, advised residents on Wednesday to stay indoors post 6 pm until the end of September. This decision was taken in response to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's report of the first human EEE case in the state since 2020.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the advisory will shift the recommended indoor time to 5 pm starting October 1, extending until the first severe frost of winter, a period identified as "peak mosquito hours." The curfews are not mandatory, and residents will not be penalized for non-compliance. However, schools within the affected regions are modifying their sports schedules to ensure activities wrap up before dusk. Residents wishing to utilize town fields beyond the recommended hours will be obliged to provide insurance proof and sign an indemnification form.
Four townsDouglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Websterhave been marked as "critical risk" zones by the advisory. A representative for the town of Oxford communicated to Fox News, "It is the Board of Healths responsibility to protect the public health, and we take EEE very seriously, and we are strongly encouraging residents to follow these recommendations due to the severity of EEE and the fact that it is in our community.
This year, only a single human EEE case has been reported in Massachusetts, but mosquitoes throughout the state have tested positive for the virus. The infected individual, an Oxford resident, is currently hospitalized and is "courageously battling the virus," as per the town spokesperson. This situation underscores the importance of individual responsibility and community cooperation in combating public health threats.
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