Stop them before they kill again — power-mad, fear-mongering bureaucrats, that is

Northeastern towns issue voluntary lockdown to prevent spread of mosquito-borne disease

Eastern equine encephalitis can be deadly, health officials warn, but cases are 'extraordinarily rare'

Four Massachusetts towns — Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster — have enacted a voluntary evening lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease.

The decision comes after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed the first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) since 2020 in Worcester County. 

On Wednesday, the Oxford Board of Health voted to support the recommendation for people to remain indoors after 6:00 p.m., effective immediately, through Sept. 30, according to a public health advisory shared with Fox News Digital.

"It is the Board of Health’s responsibility to protect the public health, and we take EEE very seriously, and we are strongly encouraging residents to follow these recommendations due to the severity of EEE and the fact that it is in our community," a spokesperson for the town of Oxford said in an email to Fox News Digital. 

"So far this year in Massachusetts, there has only been one human case of EEE, but throughout the state, mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE."

“Voluntary ” — but, remember those COVID cards? They’re back.

The lockdowns are considered recommendations, and there will be no enforcement if residents do not comply, the town spokesperson said.

"However, if they want to use town fields outside these recommendations, they will have to show proof of insurance and sign an indemnification form."

Oxford is working with the other three critical-risk communities, with all four issuing these same recommendations, the spokesperson confirmed.

"Schools are working to reschedule and adjust their sports schedules so practices and games occur before these evening times and on weekends," the email noted.

And mosquito repellant doesn’t work on lightning.

Dr. John Ayers, vice chief of innovation in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, confirmed to Fox News Digital that EEE is "serious but extraordinarily rare."

"Without any overt prevention measures, cases remain substantially rarer than being struck by lightning," he said.

"While evening lockdowns could be protective, other options would be educating the public of the risk, encouraging mosquito repellent usage, and spraying to prevent the prevalence of mosquitoes," he advised.

Ayers added, "I don't think there is anything you can do to meaningfully lower your individual chances of illness, because they're already so low."