State officials in Massachusetts have issued warnings to Residents in several towns due to an increased threat of Eastern equin and sephtis or E virus which is spread by mosquitoes this advisory follows the classification of 10 communities in the state as high or critical risk for ee to reduce the mosquito population and limit the spread of the virus aerial mosquito spraying will be conducted in Plymouth County while ground spraying by trucks is planned for Worcester County according to the hill the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announc oun that this is the first ee outbreak in the state in 4 years Department of Public Health commissioner Robbie Goldstein highlighted the seriousness of the situation stating we have not seen an outbreak of e for 4 years in Massachusetts this year's outbreak and activity rais the risk for communities in parts of the state we need to use all our available tools to reduce risk and protect our communities we are asking everyone to do their part ee is a rare but dangerous virus with a fatality rate of approximately 30% among those infected survivors often experience long-term neurological complications the virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito typically during the summer and early fall when mosquito activity is at its peak while ee is most commonly found in eastern and Gulf Coast states Massachusetts has seen periodic outbreaks making it crucial for residents to remain cautious in addition to spraying efforts residents are being advised to take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites these include wearing ing long pants and sleeves when Outdoors using insect repellent containing DEET and avoiding outdoor activities during Peak mosquito hours which are typically From Dusk to Dawn in response to the elevated risk Town officials in Plymouth Massachusetts have decided to close all public parks From Dusk to Dawn as mentioned in a press release issued on Friday these closures are intended to minimize residents exposure to mosquitos during the hours when they are most active the state confirmed its first human case of e on August 16th in Worcester County underscoring the urgency of the situation this case highlights the need for immediate action and vigilance by both residents and local authorities in addition to Public Health measures the state is also closely monitoring animal populations as Horses and other animals are susceptible to the virus veterinarians are advising horse owners to vaccinate their animals against ee as Horses are particularly vulnerable and can experience severe symptoms similar to those and humans the Centers for Disease Control and prevention notes that the ee virus circulates primarily between mosquitoes and birds in freshwater hardwood swamps which are abundant in parts of Massachusetts humans and certain animals like horses can become infected when bitten by mosquitoes that have fed on Infected Birds however humans and horses are considered deadend hosts meaning they cannot spread the virus to other mosquitoes or people with no vaccines or specific treatments available for ee prevention is critical the the incubation period for the virus ranges from 4 to 10 days and symptoms can vary from mild flu like symptoms to severe neurological conditions including seizures coma and death the CDC warns that even in non-fatal cases the long-term effects of ee can be devastating leading to significant cognitive and physical impairments as the state continues to battle the current outbreak residents are urged to stay informed and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families state and local officials are working together to implement measures aimed at reducing the spread of the ee virus but Community cooperation is essential in this effort