GRAFTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced that Eastern equine encephalitis has been detected in additional mosquito samples collected on Sept. 11 in Sutton and Southbridge.
These findings raise the EEE risk level to high in Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sutton and Webster, and to moderate in Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Millbury and Northbridge.
The first EEE-positive mosquitoes in Massachusetts in 2023 were announced on Sept. 1 from Douglas and Southbridge. There have also been mosquitoes with EEE and a donkey with EEE infection identified in Rhode Island and EEE-positive mosquitoes in Connecticut close to the Massachusetts border. No human or animal case of EEE has been detected in Massachusetts so far this year.
“While EEE is a rare disease, it can cause severe disease resulting in hospitalization and death,” said Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein. “Risk is high enough in several towns that we recommend rescheduling outdoor events.”
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths, and five human cases with one death in 2020.
It is recommended to use insect repellent when outdoors. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.
Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors.
More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found at https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases.
MARLBOROUGH – Professional Automotive on Mechanic Street has taken a big step toward its expansion plans.
On Sept. 6, the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee approved a special permit that will allow the business to use an adjacent building, a former glass shop. Rick Mariano, a trustee for Marco Realty Trust and Professional Automotive Service, first went before the City Council seeking the special permit earlier this summer.
The vote was 4-1, with Councilor Laura Wagner voting against the special permit after voicing concerns regarding the Village District zoning in which the property is located.
Other councilors supported the special permit.
“It’s something we could use,” said Councilor Sean Navin. “The city would benefit.”
“It’s going to be attractive, functional,” added Councilor Donald Landers Sr.
Professional Automotive plans to install two garage doors along the side of the building; a new bathroom; an equipment storage platform; and three automotive lifts.
The permit would still be subject to the Site Plan Review Committee in accordance with the city’s Site Plan Review ordinance.
Under the conditions for the special permit, all auto repair activities will take place indoors. All loading and unloading shall take place within the site and not on Mechanic Street; and no deliveries of materials or equipment or shipments from the site shall be permitted on Sunday.
Professional Automotive would also maintain the right-of-way for 7-9 Mechanic St.
The maximum hours for auto repair activities (excluding administrative and maintenance operations, and employees arriving and leaving before and after shifts) shall be Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The City Council voted to send the permit application to the city solicitor during its meeting on Monday, Sept. 11; it will come back to the council in the near future.