CITY OF BROCKTON RESIDENTS:

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCEMENT.

Massachusetts Department of Public health has notified Brockton Health Department that specimens collected from mosquitoes from the City have tested positive for both the West Nile Virus (WNV) Eastern Equine Encephalitis (also known as EEE)!  These viruses can cause severe illness in humans if they become infected, and symptoms ranging from high fever, stiff neck, seizures, muscle aches, disorientation,  inflammation of the brain (related to EEE), coma, even paralysis, and occasionally death in some people.

Therefore the following steps are recommendations to avoid exposure to mosquito bites:

• Residents are recommended to use mosquito repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient
• Restrict outdoor activities by observing peak mosquito activity at dusk and dawn
• If residents need to be outside during these time periods, it is recommended that they wear long sleeve clothes to avoid exposing their skin
• DPH will continue enhanced surveillance activities in this region. Please click on this link to access risk maps updated with today’s positive results: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update. If you have difficulty accessing this information, please call the City of Brockton Health Department at: 508-580-7175.  Thank you!

NOTE: In collaboration with the City of Brockton, the Plymouth County Officials spray different sections of the City in an effort to reduce and/or eliminate exposure risks!