16 August, 2019
On Friday, August 16, 2019, a human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) was confirmed in a young adult resident of Grafton, Massachusetts. In response, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) has raised the EEE risk rating in Hopkinton, Grafton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton, Westborough, Framingham, Marlborough, Millbury, Northborough and Sutton to Critical. With the Critical Risk designation, municipal and community leadership are recommended to cancel or reschedule outdoor gatherings, organized sporting events, etc. to avoid peak mosquito hours (dusk to dawn). Residents are urged to utilize insect repellent, wear protective clothing and also reduce out of doors activities between dusk and dawn.
In response to the Critical Risk designation, the Hopkinton Health Department, MADPH, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and the Central MA Mosquito Control Project will coordinate aerial and ground spraying throughout the Town of Hopkinton and the affected region. The MADPH will initiate a regional education and awareness campaign. The Hopkinton Health Department will manage the campaign locally. All regulatory parties will continue to monitor the situation while the Critical Risk designation is in place. State and local health departments will provide regular updates to the Town Leadership and Residents of Hopkinton.
Please feel free to contact the Hopkinton Health Department at (508) 497-9725 with any questions or concerns. The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project can be reached at (508) 393-3055.
Additional information can be obtained through the following link to the MADPH Mosquito Borne Disease web-site: https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases
