EEE, West Nile Mosquito Threat Cancels UMass Amherst Sunwheel and Sky Watching Events on Sept. 22

AMHERST, Mass. – The threat of two mosquito-borne illnesses, Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, has led University of Massachusetts Amherst astronomer Judith Young to cancel sunrise and sunset events planned to mark the autumnal equinox at the UMass Amherst Sunwheel on Saturday, Sept. 22.

 

Young said she is honoring Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy’s ban on dawn and dusk events to protect students and the public from gathering outdoors at times when mosquitos are most active. “The reality is that the sun will not quite have set by 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, and I do not want to tempt anyone to stay and see the sunset… I certainly do not want to endanger anyone, so I will err on the side of caution.”