Easton Board of Health Rescinds Nighttime Curtailment Recommendation After Hard Frost

Hard frost Friday night ended Easton's "critical" threat level.

The Easton Board of Health announced Monday that there is no longer a need to curtail nighttime activities in response to a heightened Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat. Friday night's hard frost ended Easton's "critical" threat level, which had been in place since early August. EEE was first found in the Shovel Town in early July. Easton officials have recommended the curtailment of activities as a result. While the Board of Health enacted a regulation giving it the authority to ban night-time activities, it did not put the regulation into action. Below is a full message from Health Agent Mark Taylor: The Easton Board of Health would like to first thank all the residents, school groups and recreational organizations in town for their …

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Possible Frost Friday Night Could Quell EEE Threat

The National Weather Service is calling for a frost Friday night, meaning the end of EEE warnings.

The National Weather Service released a freeze watch for this week in Southeastern Massachusetts, warning that temperatures could fall below freezing late Friday night and early Saturday morning. In Easton, the first hard frost of the season may mean the end of a Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat: something that has spurred warnings from officials since it was first found in a positive mosquito pool last July. While the board of health enacted a regulation giving it the authority to ban night-time activities, it did not put the regulation into action. Instead, it strongly recommended that organizations around town curtail activity times. Heath Agent Mark Taylor said that after a frost, however, the recommendation would be lifted. For …

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State Officials Announce Seventh Human Case of EEE, Remind Residents to Take Caution

A Plymouth County resident was diagnosed with EEE.

A seventh human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was found in Massachusetts yesterday. A Plymouth County male under the age of 18 was diagnosed with the virus, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced. It is the second human case from Plymouth County. Other human findings have been Middlesex, Worcester, Franklin and Essex Counties. Two of the human findings have resulted in death. So far, no human cases have been reported in Easton or anywhere in Bristol County. Easton has been labeled at a "critical" risk level, however, due to over 70 positive mosquito pools found in town. “Summer may be over but the threat of mosquito-borne illness is not — we can expect to continue seeing mosquito activity until the first hard …

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Three EEE-Positive Mosquito Pools Found in Easton This Week

For the first time this month, EEE-positive mosquitoes were found in Easton.

The Easton Health Department announced today that three pools of mosquitoes collected on Monday have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis. The positive tests represent both a bird biting species and mammal biting species, and represent the first positive pools found in the Shovel Town this month. The last positive pools were found on Aug. 28. Easton is currently at a "critical" risk level for mosquito-borne illness. "The State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health is urging communities which have been designated at either 'Critical' or 'High' risk of EEE to cancel all planned evening outdoor events for the remainder of the season until the first hard frost," Heath Agent Kristin Kennedy said in an email message Wednesday. …

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Easton Mosquito Samples EEE-Free Since Late August

Health Agent Mark Taylor appeared before the Board of Selectmen Monday night to talk mosquitoes.

Easton Health Agent Mark Taylor told Selectmen Monday night that there have been no Eastern equine encephalitis positive mosquitoes found in the Shovel Town since Aug. 29. Taylor said he received an email Monday from Catherine Brown, the state's head epidemiologist, who reported that 62 sample pools were collected since Aug. 29 and all pools came back negative. "I received that email back from her probably two hours ago and I was happy to get it so I could share it with you and the rest of the town," Taylor told Selectmen. Taylor said residents needed to continue to use caution, however. His appearance in front of the Board came on the same day that the third human case of EEE was confirmed in the Commonwealth. While the case was not found…

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First West Nile Death in Mass. Since 2005, Threat Level Raised Statewide

A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness. Easton's mosquito-borne illness threat level remains "critical."

EEE isn't the only reason state officials are raising red flags. The first death of a Massachusetts resident due to West Nile Virus (WNV) since 2005 and additional human cases have led state officials to raise the threat level statewide to at least 'moderate." Due to multiple EEE-positive mosquito pools and WNV-positive mosquito pools found in Easton, Easton's threat level remains "critical." A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Friday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this gentleman during this difficult time," Worcester Division of Public Health …

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Easton Board of Health Approves Regulation For Mosquito-Borne Illness Containment

With the regulation, the Board of Health now has the authority to issue a nighttime activities ban in public places.

The Easton Board of Health approved a Regulation Tuesday night that provides it with the authority to issue a nighttime activity ban in public places due to mosquito-borne illness such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) or West Nile virus. The vote was taken after a spirited two hour public hearing that included arguments for and against the Regulation. Board of Health members Gil Heino and Scott Aronson voted 2-0 in it's favor and defended the Regulation against residents who felt it was an example of an "overreach." Board Chair Jennifer Nichols was not present at the hearing due to a previously scheduled vacation. Heino and Aronson were joined by Health Agents Mark Taylor and Kristin Kennedy, Town Counsel Jay Talerman and Massachusetts…

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EEE Restricts Oliver Ames Sports to Daytime to Start Fall Season

Because of EEE, Oliver Ames' home sports games won't be played at night to start the season.

  Oliver Ames Athletic Director Bill Matthews said this week that Tiger home games will be restricted to the day time to start the fall sports season. The shift in schedules can be attributed to the many positive Eastern equine encephalitis mosquitoes found in the Shovel Town. Easton has been labeled at a risk level of "critical" for the deadly virus. The Tigers don't have any home games scheduled under the lights until mid-October. As the current schedules stand, the OA girls' soccer team, which advanced to the State SemiFinals last year, will take the field at Muscato Stadium for the first night game Oct. 19. Matthews said the schedules will be re-evaluated in mid-October and night games may need to be pushed back further if EEE is still…

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Board of Health Member Responds to Criticism

A Letter to the Editor from Board of Health Member Gil Heino regarding proposed regulation.

I have been in Easton my whole life. I've served the town in a number of capacities and have never been so taken back by some people's vitriolic comments. I realize that once I comment, I will be subjecting myself to more insults by people who are unaware of the actual facts. However I can no longer sit back without commentating. The B.O.H. has worked many hours trying to resolve the problem Easton people may be facing. When we originally worked on this reg, it was done under the pressure of a critical alert with 55 Triple E mosquitos trapped in Easton alone. We did not have the time or state of mind to analyze each and every word that was put in the original draft. Since listening to the people of Easton's comments, we are in the process …

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Easton Health Officials Discuss EEE Threat, Proposed Regulation

Most town organizations are already taking precautions to avoid mosquitoes, officials say.

  Easton health officials said Monday night that a number of factors would play into a decision to enact any type of nighttime activities ban in Easton. The Board of Health is holding a public hearing on Sept. 4 to vote on a regulation that would give it the ability to enact Orders to protect the public from threats of mosquito-borne illnesses. Even with the passage of the regulation, though, officials stressed that a nighttime activities ban is not definite. Health Agent Kristen Kennedy said the regulation would act as a "tool in the toolkit" should there be an imminent risk of public health and safety from mosquito borne illness. "We may never use this regulation," said Board of Health Member Gil Heino. Board of Health Chair Jennifer …

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Jim C

11:54 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dear Mr. Scott Aronson , I'm under the assumption that some of the recent "over the top" bans (this and outdoor smoking ban...and I'm no smoker) have been driven by the recently re-elected Board of Health Chair - Jennifer Nichols (April 2012...term expires 2015). However, since you are the next Board of Health term that expires (in 2013), I'd like to plead to you to please reconsider going …   more ›