Mass. Town Closes Parks Due to Mosquito-Borne Illness

Mar. 15, 2025

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A Massachusetts town is closing its public parks and fields at night due to their “high risk status” forEastern equine encephalitis (EEE), amosquito-bourneillness that can be fatal.

According to the town statement, there have also been EEE-infected mosquitoes previously identified in Plymouth County (Halifax and Kingston), Barnstable County (Barnstable), and in Essex County (Amesbury and Haverhill).

According to theU.S. Centers for Disease Control, there is no vaccine for EEE, and “although rare, eastern equine encephalitis is very serious. Approximately 30% of people with eastern equine encephalitis die, and many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems.”

Aerial view of Plymouth, Mass.Getty

Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.

“As Mass [Department of Public Health] has now elevated Plymouth’s EEE risk status to high, it is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk to exposure to EEE. The health and safety of our community, residents, and visitors remain our priority,” Michelle Bratti, Plymouth’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, said in the town’s statement.

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“The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk,” the town’s statement advised.

So far this year, people in three states — Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont — have been diagnosed with the virus,according to the CDC.Last year,seven caseswere identified in the United States.

The news comes as the United States is combating an increased risk of other mosquito-bourne illnesses, such asWest Nile VirusandDengue fever.

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source: people.com