The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Odds of catching virus slim, mayor says
City recreation to remain open amid mosquitoborne illness
MIDDLETOWN — Officials this week announced the city is taking a conservative approach to dealing with eastern equine encephalitis.
Mayor Dan Drew issued a news release late Thursday saying the potential of being infected with the mosquitoborne disease isn’t as likely as generally thought.
“There is a lot of unwarranted panic about this illness that is outsized to the actual threat posed to anyone. I urge everyone to be calm and to remember that the odds of getting sick at all — let alone suffering serious consequence — are very slim,” he said.
As such, the city won’t be spraying to kill the mosquitoes, because “the consequences to people, wildlife, and pets vastly exceeds any benefit from doing so.”
Public parks will remain open and municipal activities will continue. Privately run leagues may cancel or postpone practices if they choose, but the city will not do so, Drew said.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz announced in a press conference Tuesday afternoon that a person from Old Lyme had died from EEE. Last week, the state announced someone from East Lyme had died from the illness. It was the first death from EEE since 2013.
Several local towns and schools, including East Hampton and Haddam, have taken precautions to keep residents safe.
Drew made the announcement following a meeting with the health department, including the city’s medical director, a longtime physician, and staff members from recreation, general counsel, the Board of Education and public works.
The city has not tested for EEE and is not conducting testing right now, Drew added.
“The large electronic signs along the highways are frightening people, and so is media coverage. This is a roundabout way of saying that you are in no more danger now than you were most of the summer or in previous years. Keeping EEE in perspective, hundreds more people die each year from the flu,” Drew wrote.
“We remind you that the danger to you and your loved ones is negligible and declining by the day,” he said.
After looking over state epidemiological data and investigating what other towns are doing, Drew said officials determined the following:
⏩ “Mosquitoes are no longer breeding and more are dying each day
⏩ EEE has existed all summer and has only reached the public consciousness recently
⏩ Whatever possibility for illness exists will be taken care of by the first heavy frost
⏩ There are a few isolated EEE cases most years
⏩ Most people who suffer consequences are part of a vulnerable population (such as the elderly or very young)
⏩ The vast majority of cases reported have been along the shore or the state’s eastern border concentrated within very specific areas within specific towns. Please see the map below, which demonstrates this point
⏩ The same common sense preventative measures you would always use for mosquitoes apply now,” Drew said.
Alina Filozov, Middlesex Health’s chief of infectious disease, said patients are asking about the risks of contracting the virus, especially if they or a loved one participate in outside sports activities.
“It is important to note that an EEE infection is still a a rare occurrence, and not every infection will lead to encephalitis or brain inflammation,” Filozov said.
“EEE is a systemic infection with an abrupt onset, and is characterized by chills, fever, malaise, joint and muscle pain. Generally, the illness lasts one to two weeks, and recovery is complete when there is no central nervous system involvement,” she said.
Encephalitis can develop after a few days of general illness in older children and adults who have the EEE virus, she added.
Based on symptoms, it is very difficult to distinguish between EEE and West Nile Virus, Filozov said. Symptoms for both range from mild to severe. West Nile is much more common in Connecticut than EEE. However, the fatality rate for EEE is higher, Filozov said.