Residents in Massachusetts towns urged to stay inside over mosquito-borne virus
Residents in Massachusetts towns urged to stay inside over mosquito-borne virus
Transcript
00:00The risk of a dangerous virus spread by mosquitoes has four towns west of Boston, Massachusetts,
00:06urging residents to stay indoors after dark until at least October.
00:10Now, according to a local report, the town of Oxford says it doesn't have the funds to
00:14spray away the potentially deadly pests.
00:17Get more now from CBS's Tiffany Chan.
00:21Oxford, Massachusetts, and three neighboring towns have a reason for concern as mosquitoes
00:26carrying a potentially deadly virus called Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, infected
00:33a resident who is now fighting for his life.
00:35We don't want to see another human case of EEE this year.
00:39The rare but dangerous disease can cause swelling in the brain, there's no treatment, and anyone
00:44can get infected.
00:45The death rate is as high as 30 percent.
00:48Even if you do survive, usually there are long-term significant health impacts, neurological
00:55impacts.
00:56Oxford has been declared a critical risk for EEE, prompting health department officials
01:02to recommend a 6 p.m. curfew for outdoor activities, including club sports.
01:07These are recommendations, they're not hard and stop requirements.
01:11We are definitely nervous about it.
01:13Sarah Fournier is also worried her children's sports seasons, football, and cheer could
01:18be jeopardized, but they're taking precautions by wearing mosquito repellent and long-sleeved
01:24tops.
01:25We can't stop life.
01:28They need to get out there, they need to play.
01:32This is their time to be social with their friends and be a part of a team.
01:38Now EEE symptoms usually begin between 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected
01:44mosquito.
01:45According to the CDC, now some of those symptoms can include fever, headache, and seizures.
01:50Nora?
01:51This is such an interesting story, Tiffany Chan.
01:53Thank you so much for bringing it to us.