Vermont just became the second state to postpone public events in order to curb the spread of a deadly virus in the state.
The Green Mountain state joins neighboring Massachusetts in recommending their citizens stay home at night, amid high reports of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
This rare sickness is carried by horses and spread by mosquitos, 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 ‘strongly recommend[s]’ people in some of the state’s busiest towns stay inside between 6 pm and 6 am, when the bugs are most active.
Vermont public health department found 47 groups of mosquitos with EEE across 11 communities – a sharp increase from last year, where 14 groups of mosquitos tested positive across three towns
Citizens in some of Vermont’s most populous areas, including it’s capital, Burlington, have been ‘strongly recommended’ to avoid leaving home between 6 pm and 6 am, when mosquitos are most active
Though the virus is rare, it’s already claimed one life in New England this year. Steven Perry, 41, a 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, across state lines, curfews were announced in multiple counties in Massachusetts. Sports games, cookouts and other end-of summer events have been postponed across the state, a move Vermont seems to be mirroring.
EEE is rare – affecting an estimated 11 Americans per year – but in the past year, it’s plagued New England at seemingly record levels.
August marked the first human case of the mosquito-borne illness in Vermont since 2012.
The areas in Vermont at highest risk, as highlighted by the health department include Burlington, Colchester, Alburg, Swanton and Sudbury.
Public health officials arrived at these areas after finding 47 groups of mosquitos with EEE across 11 communities – a sharp increase from last year, where 14 groups of mosquitos tested positive across three towns.
The events cancelled include Burlington’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, normally one of the state’s largest gatherings.
The event’s organizer put out a statement reading: ‘While the eventual outcome of this virus’ impact and the general response from the public is not our judgment call to make, the significant costs associated with organizing this event prevent us from delaying this decision any further to find out’.
Cases of EEE appear to have risen slightly since the Covid pandemic, although experts say the virus remains rare in people
Other cancellations include music and food festivals, art shows, concerts and outdoor movies.
Vermont’s Health Department stated that since there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, prevention is the best course of action, even though it might be inconvenient.
‘The best way to reduce your risk of infection with EEE is by: limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk,’ officials said. If you have to go outside at night, they recommend using bug spray and wearing long sleeves.
Once in your system, the EEE attacks the nervous system, similarly to other mosquito borne illnesses like West Nile.
In a typical case, an individual will experience flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, body aches and joint pain for one to two weeks.
But about 30 percent of people develop more serious symptoms due to brain or spinal cord infection, leading to brain swelling, mild disability or death.
People over age 50 or under age 15 are at a higher risk for these severe complications than the average person.