Viruses & Diseases
Over the past few years the incidence of Lyme disease in the state has been increasing, with many of these cases occurring on the South Shore, Cape, and Islands. Also, Massachusetts saw an outbreak of thirteen Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases from 2004-2006 and six West Nile Virus (WNV) cases in 2007.
Due to the nature of these diseases they are not totally preventable. However, you can do a lot to protect yourself from contracting them by avoiding the ticks and mosquitoes they are carried by. Please take a look at the websites below to learn more about what these diseases are, how they are contracted, and how to protect yourself and your family against them.
Lyme Disease:
- Cape Cod Cooperative Extension — Ticks
- Mass Dept. of Health — Lyme Disease FAQs
- Mass Dept. of Health — Tick Identification
- Mass Dept. of Health — Tick Repellents Fact Sheet
- Centers for Disease Control — Lyme Disease
- Centers for Disease Control — Southern Tick–Associated Rash Illness
- American Lyme Disease Foundation
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus:
- Mass Dept. of Health — EEE Fact Sheet
- Centers for Disease Control — EEE Fact Sheet
- Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project — EEE Information
- Mass Dept. of Health — Mosquito Repellents Fact Sheet
West Nile Virus:
- Mass Dept. of Health — West Nile Virus Fact Sheet
- Centers for Disease Control — West Nile Virus Fact Sheet
- State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board
- National Pesticide Information Center — DEET Fact Sheet