New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that laboratory testing has confirmed the season’s fourth human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection. The individual is a female in her 60s who was exposed to EEE in Plymouth County. As a result, the EEE risk level in Plymouth in Plymouth County has been raised to high.
Across the Commonwealth, there are now four municipalities at critical risk, 10 at high risk, and 18 at moderate risk for EEE.
Mosquito populations are declining and most EEE transmission to people occurs before mid-September. However, some risk from EEE will continue until there has been a hard frost. DPH continues to work with the local health departments and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to coordinate mosquito surveillance and appropriate public health response activities.
All residents are reminded to use mosquito repellent any time they are outside, and those in high and critical risk communities are advised to schedule their outdoor activity to avoid the dusk to dawn hours to reduce exposure to the mosquitoes most likely to spread EEE.
EEE is a rare but potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. There have been three other human cases identified this year. In 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts with 6 deaths.
EEE virus has been found in 65 mosquito samples this year, over 70 percent of them in species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to people. Information about current mosquito activity is updated regularly and can be found here.
People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes.
