West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”) are viruses that occur in Massachusetts and can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis. There are other diseases spread by mosquitoes that people may be exposed to when traveling in other regions of the world. These include Zika virus, Dengue fever, and Chikungunya.
The City of Gloucester and the Gloucester Board of Health believe that an educated public remains the most effective way of preventing residents and visitors from being harmed by the illnesses associated with WNV and EEE.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provide the following resources to help understand the types and impacts of mosquito-borne diseases in our state:
Overall webpage on mosquito-borne diseases and their prevention
Mosquito-borne-disease prevention and tips
3-minute video featuring State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown provides an overview of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and how you can protect yourself and your family from this mosquito-borne illness.
West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Risk Map
Information on local risk levels are also posted on the Health Department's Facebook page