EEE reported at Scout Camp (RI)

[RememberSchiff]

A positive test for eastern equine encephalitis has been reported on Block Island (RI). 

The deadly mosquito-borne virus EEE has been reported in various locales around the State of Rhode Island and in neighboring Massachusetts  A 50-year old West Warwick man died from the virus on Sunday.

Bill McCombe, co-Director of Block Island’s Emeegency Management program, contacted The Times about the positive test at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept  13. McCombe said that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management alerted him regarding the positive test, which was discovered at the Boy Scout Camp (Sandsland Reservation, Narrangansett Council), which is located off Connecticut Avenue.

https://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/eee-reported-block-island/55671

[RememberSchiff]

Massachusetts Arbovirus Update 2019 :   http://mosquitoresults.com/  New Hampshire has also found mosquitoes with EEE.  Using these maps, we try to schedule outings in less colorful areas. We also hope for an early frost. It was 35deg this am! 

 

[RememberSchiff]

Oct 4 EEE Update from Southern New England Narragansett  Council. 

• All overnight camping at Council properties is canceled until the first hard frost. This includes tents, cabins and shelters. Activities during daytime hours (after dawn and before dusk) are allowed.

More details at source:

http://www.narragansettbsa.org/EEE

[RememberSchiff]

Rochester,, MA (SE Mass): The Boy Scouts Haunted Hayride event, planned for Oct. 25 and 26, will be cancelled due to the Eastern equine encephalitis threat levels.

In accordance with the Boy Scouts of America Council, camping or overnight events are still cancelled until at least three hard frosts with temperatures of 28 degrees or less have passed and the mosquitos which transmit EEE and their larvae are dead.

https://sippican.theweektoday.com/article/boy-scouts’-haunted-hayride-cancelled-year/44480

[mrkstvns]

Just to put this in perspective, although EEE is a serious disease, it is NOT "rampant" or common in any way --- even in Massachusetts, which has more cases than other states.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Massachusetts is 6,902,149.  According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, there have been 9 confirmed cases of EEE, resulting in 1 death. (There were also 7 cases of EEE infecting horses, and 1 case confirmed in a goat.)

Obviously, this means your chance of dying of EEE in Massachusetts is 1 in 6,902,149. 

Your chance of contracting the disease in Massachusetts is just under a in 766,905.  That is close to your odds of being struck by lightning while in Wyoming (about 1 in 1 million).

Do those kinds of numbers actually justify cancelling activities and creating a whole lot of hoopla?  

Edited October 23, 2019 by mrkstvns

[RememberSchiff]

6 minutes ago, mrkstvns said:

Just to put this in perspective, although EEE is a serious disease, it is NOT "rampant" or common in any way --- even in Massachusetts, which has more cases than other states.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Massachusetts is 6,902,149.  According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, there have been 9 confirmed cases of EEE, resulting in 1 death. (There were also 7 cases of EEE infecting horses, and 1 case confirmed in a goat.)

Obviously, this means your chance of dying of EEE in Massachusetts is 1 in 6,902,149. 

Your chance of contracting the disease in Massachusetts is just under a in 766,905.  That is close to your odds of being struck by lightning while in Wyoming (about 1 in 1 million).

Do those kinds of numbers actually justify cancelling activities and creating a whole lot of hoopla?  

Yes, as you observed, we re-schedule or re-locate activities due to lightning where the odds are even less. 

 

[RememberSchiff]

Update from Narragansett Council (MA):

Alert: Oct. 28, 2019 - The Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut Depts of Public Heath have identified numerous communities in Southeastern New England as at serious risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).  All overnight camping at Council properties will be cancelled until the first hard frost. Stay up to date for camp closings, program updates, and safety guidelines updated each Monday at NCBSA.org/EEE.