Westborough hunkers down in face of mosquitoes

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Westborough officials are curtailing outdoor activities such as youth sports and neighborhood barbecues in response to mosquitoes carrying Eastern equine encephalitis.

The Boston Globe reported that Westborough has been designated "high risk." That means the state Department of Public Health considers the community very likely to see multiple cases of the disease in humans.

Paul McNulty, Westborough's director of public health, said school, recreation and health officials are working to ensure that local organizations follow state guidelines to curtail outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.

The Board of Health also is advising residents to limit after-sunset outdoor activities, not just organized recreation. For example, McNulty says a person walking a dog at 10:30 p.m. is taking a risk.