Michael Maniscalco, the town manager, said one mosquito carrying EEE was trapped on Burgess Road.
“One could mean that there’s another one out there and at the end of the day, it’s a safety issue for our residents so we are really taking it very seriously and taking measures to make sure that everybody stays safe,” said Maniscalco.
South Windsor announced that due to the positive EEE test in town, they will close all parks and outdoor town facilities, including playing fields, at 5:30 p.m. every night until the first hard frost of the season.
As a result, the South Windsor Soccer Club has canceled all practices until further notice, according to a post on its Facebook page. Weekend games will be played as scheduled, but are not to go past 5:30 p.m.
EEE is rare, but 30 percent of those who contract the disease die and many others are left with brain damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of EEE include headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. It may then progress with disorientation, seizures and coma. There is no specific treatment.
A resident of East Lyme has died of EEE this season. A second case has been confirmed in a resident of Old Lyme.
EEE has been detected in mosquitoes trapped in Chester, Groton, Haddam, Hampton, Killingworth, Ledyard, Madison, North Stonington, Plainfield, Shelton, South Windsor, Stonington and Voluntown. It has also been found in horses in Colchester, Columbia, Salem, Sterling and Voluntown.
In South Windsor, the town already sprayed for mosquitoes at Nevers Park and Rye Street Park. They are discussing if further pesticides should be applied.
Tablets called “dunks” are also being offered for free at the Town Manger’s office at Town Hall or at the Health Department. People can place them in standing bodies of water on their property to help reduce the number of mosquito larvae.
“Additionally, we’re also currently working with Parks and Rec to reduce their hours today so once it gets to dusk, they will be closing down a lot of their programs to get people inside and in a safer situation,” Maniscalco said.
Maniscalco recommends you monitor your property on a daily basis and dump out any water that collects and can attract mosquitoes.
