Northeastern towns issue voluntary lockdown to prevent spread of potentially disease EEE

Four towns in Massachusetts—Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster—have introduced a voluntary evening lockdown to help control the spread of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a dangerous mosquito-borne disease.

This decision follows the confirmation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) of the first human case of EEE in Worcester County since 2020.

On Wednesday, the Oxford Board of Health endorsed a recommendation urging residents to stay indoors after 6:00 p.m. from now until September 30, according to a public health advisory shared with Fox News Digital. Starting October 1, the recommended curfew shifts to 5:00 p.m., continuing until the season’s first hard frost.

“The Board of Health’s priority is to safeguard public health, and we take EEE very seriously. We strongly encourage residents to adhere to these guidelines given the severity of EEE and its presence in our community,” a spokesperson for Oxford stated in an email to Fox News Digital.

Though there has only been one human case of EEE in Massachusetts this year, mosquitoes across the state have tested positive for the virus. The affected individual, an Oxford resident, is currently hospitalized and fighting the illness, as reported in a Wednesday memo from the Oxford town manager provided to Fox News Digital.

While these lockdowns are merely recommendations and won’t be enforced, the town spokesperson emphasized the importance of educating residents about EEE and the associated risks.

“If residents choose to use town fields outside these recommended hours, they will need to provide proof of insurance and sign an indemnification form,” the statement added.

Oxford is collaborating with the other three high-risk communities, all of which have issued similar advisories. Schools are also adjusting their sports schedules to ensure that practices and games are held earlier in the day or on weekends, according to the email.