RFK Jr endorsing Trump lights up social media: ‘Putting his country first’
Both conservative and liberal social media users reacted strongly to independent 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Trump on Friday.
“I’ve made the heart-wrenching decision to suspend my campaign and to support President Trump. This decision is agonizing for me because of the difficulties it causes me, and my children and my friends,” Kennedy said on Friday afternoon.
At his press conference in Phoenix, Ariz., Kennedy accused the Democratic Party of waging “continual legal warfare against both President Trump and myself,” and running “a sham” Democratic primary election that he said prevented him from having a fair shot at the White House.
“In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,” he said. “I no longer believe that I have a realistic past of electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control.“
DOES KENNEDY’S DEPARTURE FROM THE 2024 RACE HELP TRUMP MORE THAN HARRIS?
Conservatives on social media applauded Kennedy’s move.
Business owner and podcast host Patrick Bet-David remarked on the major impact he believes Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump will have on the election.
“RFK jr officially endorsed Trump and removed his name from the ballot in 10 swing states. This has a BIGGER impact on the campaign than the JD Vance VP pick. JD Vance got the conservatives but RFK will attract the independents. The timing of the announcement is monumental.”
Donald Trump Jr. exclaimed, “RFK Jr endorses Trump!!! UNITY Let’s Go!!!!”
Conservative influencer duo The Hodge Twins praised the independent candidate, stating, “We may disagree on some things but at least RFK Jr is an honorable man. Putting his country first to beat the communists.”
The Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis endorsed Kennedy’s message about supporting Trump and finding a way to hold government corruption accountable.
“RFK Jr. is 100% correct,” he wrote. “Our government is immoral. It is corrupt. It is authoritarian and tyrannical. It hates the people. It hates the rule of law. And if our nation is going to survive, the regime running this country has to be defeated and destroyed.”
“RFK JR. JUST TORE DOWN THE MODERN DEMOCRAT PARTY!!!” said podcaster Graham Allen while quoting Kennedy saying, “It became the party of war, censorship, corruption, big Pharma, big tech, and big money.”
Former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines wrote, “RFK is delivering his remarks so well. Brutally honest, respectable, undeniable. This is powerful.”
KAMALA HARRIS SUPPORTERS UNSURE WHEN ASKED ABOUT VP’S POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Liberals, however, raged against Kennedy’s speech and new alliance with their chief political opponent.
Former Obama adviser David Axelrod said, “Robert F. Kennedy was my political hero. He battled fiercely & eloquently against poverty, injustice and for economic fairness. Sadly RFK Jr, who made a rambling exit from the race today, proves that sometimes an apple DOES fall far from the tree… in this case, down a hill and over a cliff.”
“Robert F. Kennedy Sr. would have been appalled to see his son cut a deal to drop out for he[Sic] race and endorse Trump,” he added.
Kennedy’s sister, activist and lawyer Kerry Kennedy, denounced her brother’s speech and endorsement. In a statement she posted on X, she and other members of the Kennedy family said in part, “Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story.”
Prominent social media liberal John Pavlovitz commented, “RFK Jr endorsing Trump is like E. coli endorsing diarrhea.”
Liberal journalist Aaron Rupar mocked the announcement, stating, “My thoughts on RFK Jr are that if you don’t want an anti-vax loon making federal health policy under a second Trump administration, vote for Kamala Harris.”
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Alaska Republican’s surprise announcement could deal blow to Democrats nationally
In what may be a surprise blow to Democrats’ chances of holding a key red state seat in the U.S. House, Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced Friday she is suspending her campaign for Congress.
Dahlstrom was in what was essentially a three-way race with incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich III, who comes from a prominent political family in The Last Frontier.
While Dahlstrom did not immediately endorse Begich, she suggested in comments announcing her withdrawal that her reason for running was to see Peltola defeated.
“I entered this race because Alaskans deserve better representation than what we have received from Mary Peltola in Washington,” Dahlstrom said in a statement.
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“At this time, the best thing I can do to see that goal realized is to withdraw my name from the general election ballot and end my campaign,” she said.
Dahlstrom added she has always “done what’s right for Alaska, and today is no different.”
Due to the state enacting ranked choice voting by popular vote in 2020, elections in Alaska now differ from most other states in that the candidate to gain the majority of the votes is not necessarily declared the winner.
That aspect was front and center in the first general election race Peltola won to succeed five-decade Republican Rep. Don Young, who died in office in 2022 at 88.
Peltola defeated both Begich and former Gov. Sarah Palin, who had both run as Republicans.
Though the two GOP candidates garnered more votes than Peltola, she was named the winner after the hierarchical rounds of ranked choice vote tallying concluded. Under the system, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated, and that candidate’s voters’ “second-choice” votes get tallied instead, and so on.
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Under the more traditional electoral system, Alaska is a reliably red state, which the Cook Political Report currently placed at R+9. Republicans control the U.S. House, 220-211, with four vacancies. A Republican flip in Alaska could give the GOP more breathing room.
Republicans, including Kelly Tshibaka, who lost to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in a ranked-choice battle, have condemned the system as “baiting the water for [political] negativity.” However, other proponents have said it helps suppress partisanship and aids more moderate candidates.
Begich, whose uncle Mark was a Democratic senator and whose grandfather, Nick Sr., was Young’s Democratic predecessor before disappearing in a 1972 plane crash, said Dahlstrom ran a “strong campaign” and thanked her for her public service.
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“Today we move forward unified in the effort to replace Mary Peltola, who has proven by her alignment with the left that she is not the moderate she claimed to be. I look forward to continuing to travel Alaska to earn your support and take Alaska’s incredible story to our nation’s capital,” Begich said. “North, to the future.”
In response to the news, Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios said, “Mary was so proud to have received more than 50% of the vote last Tuesday when many voters probably assumed she would be moving forward to the general election without their votes.”
“Alaskan Democrats, Republicans, nonpartisans/undeclared voted for fish, family, freedom, and Mary’s record as the incumbent in the race who actually delivered Willow, hundreds of millions of dollars for the rail belt energy grid, a ban on Russian trawled fish, and thousands of good-paying Alaskan jobs. We think voters will make the same choice this November.”
Brittany Mahomes scorches ‘haters’ in cryptic post as Trump speculation swirls
Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Patrick Mahomes, sent a scathing message to her “haters” on Instagram Friday.
The Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback’s wife posted the message after social media users linked the hate to her social media activity.
She appeared to like Donald Trump’s post on Instagram that outlined the “2024 GOP platform” from Aug. 13.
“I mean honestly, To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood,” she posted on her Instagram story Friday afternoon. “There’s no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well.”
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Screenshots and a screen-recorded video indicated she liked the post, but a review of the post later by Fox News Digital could not find her account among the 400,000-plus “likes” on the post.
A contact for Brittany did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Supporters of Brittany’s message were quick to point the finger at Taylor Swift fans. Several Swift fan accounts circulated the screenshots on social media, voicing their displeasure. Swift dates Patrick’s teammate, Travis Kelce.
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Swift and Brittany Mahomes attended several Chiefs games throughout the season. The two even went out to eat together in New York City during the NFL season. As of publishing, Brittany still follows Swift on Instagram (Swift does not follow anybody). Swift has publicly supported Democratic candidates in the past, including an endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020.
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The post came roughly two hours before Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker again spoke out about his religious beliefs as it relates to women’s reproductive rights.
Jon Voight has advice for Brad Pitt amid ‘nonsense’ feud with Angelina Jolie
For close to eight years, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have not only been locked in a contentious battle over their French winery.
They have also been at odds with parenting their six children — Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. From physical abuse allegations to name changes, the Jolie-Pitt clan has faced a number of challenges throughout the years.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight, Jolie’s father, gave his two cents on the family rift.
Though Voight admitted he doesn’t talk to his grandchildren “as much as [he’d] like,” he’s certain about one thing. There needs to be a resolution.
BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE FIGHT OVER $164M FRENCH ESTATE
“I wish they’d find a way to make peace,” said Voight, who is promoting his upcoming film, “Reagan,” in which he portrays ex-KGB agent Viktor Ivanov. “You know, I think the kids need some stability. I love the kids, and I love my daughter. And I want Brad to step up to do, you know, what he has to do. End this nonsense.”
Pitt and Jolie were married for two years before the actress filed for divorce in 2016 after the couple allegedly got into a physical altercation on a plane, effectively ending their 12-year relationship. The two became legally single in 2019.
“I think the kids need some stability. I love the kids, and I love my daughter. And I want Brad to step up to do, you know, what he has to do. End this nonsense.”
WATCH: ‘REAGAN’ STAR JON VOIGHT WANTS BRAD PITT TO ‘END THIS NONSENSE’ WITH ANGELINA JOLIE
In 2022, the actress was granted sole physical custody of her minor children, including Shiloh at the time, after Pitt had been granted joint custody for a short period of time. Pitt was then allowed “custodial time” with his minor children. It’s unclear where the two stand regarding custody of the children at this point.
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In June 2020, the actress opened up about why she made the decision to leave Pitt, saying it was for her children’s “well-being.”
“I separated for the well-being of my family. It was the right decision,” Jolie told Vogue India. “I continue to focus on their healing.
“Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds. In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people.”
Most recently, the former couple’s French winery, Château Miraval, has been the focus of their ongoing battle after Pitt sued Jolie for breach of contract in 2022. In 2021, Jolie attempted to sell her company, Nouvel, to Tenute Del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli group, effectively transferring her 50% ownership interest in Miraval.
Last month, in documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Jolie’s attorneys argued the “Maleficent” star and her children were “victims of Pitt’s purportedly ‘private’ abuse and cover-up.”
In the court documents, Jolie’s legal team argued she “was not acting with malice and the intent to hurt Pitt in response to any custody ruling” when she sold her share of Miraval.
“Instead, it was Pitt who refused to buy her interest unless he received his newly expanded NDA, enforceable by an $8.5 million holdback specifically designed to force her silence about his abuse and cover-up,” the court documents stated.
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A source close to Jolie further commented to Fox News Digital about the latest filing earlier this month.
“Brad Pitt’s insistence on an NDA to cover up his criminal conduct is unconscionable, and no abuse survivor should be coerced and forced into silence,” the source told Fox News Digital.
“She never pressed charges, she left him all their properties and she is the one who tried to sell him the business in the first place. Yet he was not satisfied, and still he sued her and continues to attack her in the press today. All she wants is peace and the ability to heal their family.”
But a source close to Pitt immediately disputed the claims.
“This was a simple business dispute, but, sadly, this legal attack is just the latest example of them harming the entire family by making it personal,” the source told Fox News Digital at the time.
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“The other side is desperately and repeatedly trying to do anything to distract from the fact that it was her — and not Brad — who requested an NDA about the divorce, a fact that completely undermines the legitimacy of their never-ending attacks.
“They don’t want anyone to focus on the fact that she deprived the kids of their inheritance of Miraval by breaching the agreement and selling it and taking the money.”
As the legal battle over Miravel continued, Pitt was dealt another personal blow.
The couple’s daughter Shiloh filed to remove Pitt from her hyphenated last name of Jolie-Pitt on her 18th birthday in May. A source close to the situation confirmed to Fox News Digital that Shiloh had hired her own attorney to handle the change, which was spurred by the alleged abuse.
Two of Pitt’s other daughters — Vivienne and Zahara — have seemingly dropped Pitt from their last names in professional and personal settings as well. People magazine also confirmed in May that Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s name was printed as solely Vivienne Jolie in a playbill for “The Outsiders,” which she worked on with her mother.
ANGELINA JOLIE ASKS BRAD PITT TO ‘END THE FIGHTING’ AND DROP HEATED WINERY LEGAL BATTLE
Zahara previously identified herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” in a video obtained by Essence when joining her sorority at Spelman College.
Following the announcement in May, a source close to Pitt shared the actor’s dismay regarding his daughter’s legal action.
“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter,” the insider told People magazine.
“The reminders that he’s lost his children is, of course, not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad. He’s still happy with Ines [de Ramon],” the source said of Pitt’s girlfriend, but the separation from his six children “pains him.”
Jolie previously told Harper’s Bazaar how the last few years have been physically, emotionally and mentally turbulent for her.
“My body has been through a lot over the past decade, particularly the past four years, and I have both the visible and invisible scars to show for it,” Jolie said.
BRAD PITT ON ANGELINA JOLIE DIVORCE: ‘I HAD TO UNDERSTAND MY OWN CULPABILITY’
“The invisible ones are harder to wrestle with. Life takes many turns. Sometimes you get hurt, you see those you love in pain and you can’t be as free and open as your spirit desires. It’s not new or old, but I do feel the blood returning to my body.”
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Newsom jokes about VP Harris’ coronation without primary: ‘What I’ve been told to say’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom joked about the process that landed Vice President Kamala Harris the Democratic presidential nomination, saying in an interview posted Friday that he was “told to say” it was an open, inclusive process.
President Biden’s blockbuster announcement last month that he was ending his re-election bid for a second term in the White House resulted in Harris replacing him at the top of the ticket. She has since enjoyed a surge in polling and fundraising, but never received a vote as the Democratic Party quickly embraced her to lead the ticket.
Critics of the Democratic Party have suggested Harris got the nomination without the true will of the voters, but Newsom appeared to find the process humorous.
“We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom-up, I don’t know if you know that. That’s what I’ve been told to say,” Newsom said as he laughed during a talk with “Pod Save America” posted Friday.
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Newsom then joked that Democrats held a 30-minute convention between tweets by Biden on July 21 announcing he left the race and then had endorsed Harris.
“It’s been amazing,” quipped Newsom, who’s widely seen as having future White House ambitions himself.
Democrats like Nancy Pelosi have claimed the nomination wasn’t orchestrated in Harris’ favor after Biden dropped out
The clip drew criticism as it began to circulate on social media on Friday.
“The Party of Democracy sits around guffawing at how anti-democratic and vote-free and secret was their process for choosing and then imposing the new Democratic presidential nominee on the country,” journalist Glenn Greenwald responded.
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Another critic added, “Gavin Newsom knows the Harris nomination was a top-down coup, and they’re all cynical about it. Is this the ‘democracy’ they want to save? What a sick joke on their own supporters and this country.”
Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel CEO Dumisani Washington wrote, “The party always screaming about DEI and White privilege love using DEI to flaunt their White privilege. Isn’t screwing over the voters funny?”
Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night.
Biden clinched the party’s nomination in March against minimal opposition, but everything changed after his disastrous debate performance in June. Media allies and fellow Democrats who had defended his mental acuity and fitness for office changed their tune and called for him to exit the race, and despite his initial claims only God could get him out, he finally succumbed to pressure and stepped aside.
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US strike takes out senior leader of terrorist group aligned with al Qaeda in Syria
U.S. Central Command announced Friday that forces in Syria had successfully killed terrorist group senior leader Abu-‘Abd al-Rahman al-Makki.
According to CENTCOM, al-Makki was killed in a “targeted kinetic strike” in Syria.
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Al-Makki was a council member and senior leader with Hurras al-Din, which is ideologically aligned with Al-Qaeda in Syria. He was responsible for overseeing terrorist operations for the group in the Middle Eastern nation.
“CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists in the CENTCOM area of responsibility who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command.
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According to CENTCOM, Hurras al-Din and organizations like it stand against the West and her allies, including the United States.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier in the month that U.S. military forces would be re-positioned across the Middle East in support of ally Israel.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72 and the fifth of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, was one of the major resources re-allocated to the region along with its battle group.
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The U.S. officially designated Hurras al-Din as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” under Executive Order 13224 in September 2019.
Butker sends message to JD Vance after Trump posts about ‘reproductive rights’
Harrison Butker has again spoken out about his religious beliefs as it relates to women’s reproductive rights.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker on Friday wrote on X that he “implore[s]” former President Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, to defend the unborn.
Butker made the post in apparent disagreement with the former president, who said in a Truth Social post that his “Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.”
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Butker began his post, in which he shared a screenshot of Trump’s words, saying, “No party or candidate is perfect.”
He then addressed his message to Vance.
“I implore my fellow Catholic @JDVance to help bring the Republican Party back in line with the foundational platform that all life is valuable and there can be no compromise when it comes to defending the unborn,” Butker wrote.
He then shared a quote from Father Chad Ripperger, which appeared to show that he doesn’t necessarily agree with all of Trump’s beliefs.
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The quote reads, “Our obligation is to vote for the lesser of two evils because voting for a lesser evil preserves the good that could be potentially lost.”
During the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs’ visit to the White House last year, Butker was seen wearing a tie that had “Vulnerari Praesidio” in cursive writing all over it, which is a Latin term that translates to “Protect the most vulnerable.”
He also wore a gold pin representing the size of a 10-week-old baby’s feet.
Butker also took aim at President Biden’s “delusional” stance on abortion during his commencement speech at Benedictine College in May.
“[Biden] has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice,” he said.
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Butker said in an interview with ETWN News in March that unborn babies “are the greatest victims of our society.”
Shortly after his speech, his jersey sales skyrocketed, becoming one of the most popular on the market.
Towns issue voluntary evening lockdowns to prevent spread of potentially deadly disease
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.
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Starting on Oct. 1, the recommendation is to remain indoors after 5:00 p.m. until the first hard frost.
The period from dusk through dawn is considered “peak mosquito hours,” the notice stated.
The advisory designates the four communities as “critical-risk.”
“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.
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“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.”
The infected person, who lives in Oxford, remains “hospitalized and courageously battling this virus,” according to a Wednesday memo from the Oxford town manager that was provided to Fox News Digital.
The lockdowns are considered recommendations, and there will be no enforcement if residents do not comply, the town spokesperson said.
“We want to educate our residents about EEE and the seriousness of the illness and make them aware of the risk,” the statement continued.
“However, if they want to use town fields outside these recommendations, they will have to show proof of insurance and sign an indemnification form.”
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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.
Fox News Digital reached out to Oxford Public Schools for comment.
What is Eastern equine encephalitis?
Eastern equine encephalitis is caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which describes EEE as a “rare but serious disease.”
“Eastern equine encephalitis can cause brain infection (encephalitis), which can be fatal.”
Only a few cases are reported in the U.S. each year, most in the Eastern or Gulf Coast states, the agency states on its website.
Humans and other animals that contract the virus are considered “dead-end hosts,” the CDC states, which means they can’t spread it to mosquitoes that bite them.
Common symptoms of EEE include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness.
These usually appear five to 10 days after being bitten.
The disease can be deadly, resulting in fatalities for 30% of infected people. It can also lead to chronic neurological deficiencies, per the CDC.
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“Eastern equine encephalitis can cause brain infection (encephalitis), which can be fatal,” Edward Liu, MD, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, told Fox News Digital.
Older people and those who are immunocompromised are at the highest risk for mosquito-borne encephalitis, according to Liu.
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.
Prevention and treatment
The fact that local mosquitoes have the virus and one Massachusetts patient has become infected is “concerning,” Liu said.
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“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.”
“These viral encephalitides have no treatment, so prevention and supportive care is the only course of action.”
He agrees that typical strategies to deal with mosquito vector diseases are to kill the mosquitoes, reduce areas with standing water where they can nest and spray to kill their larvae.
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“These viral encephalitides have no treatment, so prevention and supportive care is the only course of action,” Liu noted.
There is currently no vaccine for Eastern equine encephalitis.
Prevention of mosquito bites is the best way to prevent infection, the CDC confirmed.
Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for additional comment.