EEE Threat Lifted

Press release submitted by the Grafton Health Department 

As you are probably aware, Grafton experienced a hard frost over the weekend, greatly decreasing the number of mosquitoes carrying mosquito borne illnesses; specifically eastern equine encephalitis (E.E.E.), which has been our biggest concern. Since the threat of EEE has significantly decreased, we are lifting our recommendation to refrain from outdoor activity after dusk.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the risk from mosquito-borne illness is considered to continue until an area has had a hard frost which will result in the death of virtually all mosquitoes. A hard, or killing frost, is defined meteorologically as two consecutive hours of temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit. This will occur at different times for different communities, and there may even be variation within communities based on local geography. Although mosquitoes are not killed until a hard frost occurs, they are extremely unlikely to be active when temperatures fall below 50 degrees in the evening.