Several towns in Massachusetts have implemented voluntary evening lockdowns to curb the spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal to humans.
The Oxford Board of Health voted on Wednesday to recommend that residents stay indoors after 6 p.m. through the end of September, following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s report of the first human case of EEE in the state since 2020. Starting October 1, the advisory will shift to recommending that residents remain inside after 5 p.m. until the first hard frost, as these times are considered “peak mosquito hours.”
Massachusetts health officials are advising residents to stay indoors and have implemented a 6 p.m. curfew on outdoor activities until at least October after detecting a human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) transmitted by mosquitoes.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus… pic.twitter.com/UYV9dw9g2I
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) August 24, 2024
While these lockdowns are voluntary, meaning there are no penalties for non-compliance, schools in the affected areas are adjusting their sports schedules to ensure practices and games conclude before the evening. Residents wishing to use town fields outside the recommended hours will need to provide proof of