Vermont just became the second state to postpone public events to slow the spread of a deadly virus in the state.
The Green Mountain State is joining its neighbor Massachusetts in advising its citizens to stay home at night amid high reports of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
This rare disease is transmitted by horses and spread by mosquitoes and, in about 30 percent of human cases, can cause brain swelling, vomiting, seizures and death.
In addition to postponing local nighttime festivals and concerts, the Vermont Department of Health is “strongly recommending” that people in some of the state’s busiest cities stay home between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when insects are most active.
The Vermont Department of Public Health found 47 clusters of EEE mosquitoes in 11 communities, a marked increase from last year, when 14 clusters of mosquitoes tested positive in three towns.
Residents in some of Vermont’s most densely populated areas, including its capital, Burlington, have been “strongly advised” to avoid leaving home between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when mosquitoes are most active.
Although the virus is rare, it is It has already claimed one life in New England this year. Steven Perry, a 41-year-old father of four, died after contracting the virus in New Hampshire last week.
He was the first person in New Hampshire to be infected with the virus in ten years.
Around the same time, statewide curfews were announced in several Massachusetts counties. Sports games, barbecues and other end-of-summer events were postponed across the state, a move that Vermont appears to be mimicking.
EEE is a rare disease (it affects about 11 Americans a year), but in the past year it has hit New England at seemingly record levels.
August marked the first human case of the mosquito-borne disease in Vermont since 2012.
Vermont areas at highest risk, as highlighted by the health department, include Burlington, Colchester, Alburg, Swanton and Sudbury.
Public health officials We arrived in these areas after finding 47 clusters of EEE-positive mosquitoes in 11 communities, a marked increase from last year, when 14 clusters of mosquitoes tested positive in three cities.
Canceled events include Burlington’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, normally one of the largest gatherings in the state.
The event organizer issued a statement saying: “While the ultimate outcome of the impact of this virus and the overall public response is not a decision we must make, the significant costs associated with hosting this event prevent us from delaying this decision any further to find out.”
EEE cases appear to have increased slightly since the Covid pandemic, although experts say the virus remains rare in humans.
Other cancellations include music and food festivals, art shows, concerts and outdoor movies.
The Vermont Department of Health said that since there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, prevention is the best option, even if it can be inconvenient.
“The best way to reduce the risk of EEE infection is to limit time spent outdoors at dawn and dusk,” officials said. If you must go outside at night, they recommend using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves.
Once in the system, EEE attacks the nervous system, similar to other mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus.
In a typical case, a person will experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches, and joint pain for one to two weeks.
But about 30 percent of people develop more severe symptoms due to an infection of the brain or spinal cord, leading to brain swelling, mild disability or death.
People over 50 or under 15 are at higher risk for these serious complications than the average person.