Framingham Movie Night Moved Indoors Due To EEE Virus Risk

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham's free movie night for this week is being moved indoors as a precaution against the recent Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) threat. The state Department of Public Health increased the city's risk level for the virus to critical after a second human case of EEE was reported in Grafton.

Thursday's movie night is being moved from the Bowditch Field Athletic Complex to the Callahan Center, which is right next door to the complex at 535 Union Ave. Parking is available in the Callahan Center lot, as well as the Bowditch Complex lot.

The Callahan Center can accommodate 200 people for the movie, and attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Because of space restraints, the “Family Fun” portion of the event will be canceled. This year’s movie will be the Disney Classic, The Jungle Book and will start at 6 p.m.

This is the first time that an EEE-positive human case was confirmed in the MetroWest region and the second EEE-positive human case in the state this year. Framingham is on of ten communities in the area that has been elevated to critical risk level.

Sam Wong, Director of Framingham's Health Department said he will work closely with Framingham Parks & Rec to suggest modifications to outdoor programming. Two weeks ago, mosquito samples collected from Framingham tested positive for West Nile Virus.

EEE, which can be deadly in some cases, has been found in 288 mosquito samples this year. The DPH said half of those are from species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to humans.

EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The first symptoms of EEE are fever, usually 103º to 106ºF, stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, these symptoms show up three to ten days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and frequent serious complication. The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week.