Remember EEE? Baker takes action on mosquito-borne viruses
Stepping away from the constant concern about the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday filed legislation to help the state more effectively combat diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus.
The legislation, An Act to Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth, would empower the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board to engage in mosquito control activities across the Commonwealth, including in areas where there is no legislative authority to take action today, should the Department of Public Health determine that an elevated risk of mosquito-borne diseases exists.
“After experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of EEE last summer, it’s critical that we act proactively to mitigate the risk of EEE through a coordinated and data-driven approach,” Baker said. “This legislation puts the Commonwealth in a better position to prepare for and respond to the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses, and allows public health experts to work together to safeguard the health and well-being of residents in every city and town across the Commonwealth.”
Last year, about a dozen people in Massachusetts, including a Grafton man, were diagnosed with EEE. Four people died. As a result of the EEE threat, local high schools revised their sports schedules to eliminate evening games, events on Grafton Common were curtailed after dark, and parents even expressed concerns about trick-or-treating.
As a result, Grafton joined the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Project to prevent future outbreaks.
“Addressing a public health risk like EEE will require smart, coordinated action across all regions of the Commonwealth,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said. “Public health officials and the State Mosquito Control Board will need the ability to respond quickly to another potential outbreak in the coming months, and this legislation empowers them to take necessary actions to mitigate the risk to the public.”
Many cities and towns have access to critical surveillance as part of their membership in a mosquito control district. However, many municipalities at risk do not belong to a district, which significantly limits the amount of data available on the presence of the disease on which to base risk assessments and mitigation activities. The legislation will allow for the kind of statewide coordinated efforts that are necessary to combat arboviruses like EEE and the mosquitoes that carry it, and help to ensure that proactive steps are taken, before diseases spread.
The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board s the oversight body for all mosquito control operations in the Commonwealth, including the mosquito control districts and projects, but currently has no authority to independently conduct mosquito control activities in non-member communities that are not part of a mosquito control district. This new legislation would allow the SRB to respond to the potential for arbovirus and work with DPH and the governor’s office to ensure appropriate steps are taken based upon the data and scientific information available.
“Past experience with EEE indicates the disease emerges in three-year cycles, and the Commonwealth is preparing for a potential outbreak this summer after last year’s unprecedented spike in cases,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said. “The public health risk presented by EEE calls for early planning, deliberate action and a statewide approach.”
In Massachusetts, mosquitoes can transmit a variety of diseases to humans, including EEE and WNV. EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. For those that contract EEE, mortality rates range up to 50 percent and, for those who survive, 80 percent have serious, permanent neurological damage. WNV can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis.
“With warmer weather, an additional public health risk that emerges is mosquito-borne diseases, including EEE,” said Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Dan Tsai. “While we are preparing with our state and local partners to combat this disease, it’s also important that Massachusetts residents remember that the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones is to practice personal protection.”
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