A fourth Massachusetts resident has died after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis this year, according to state health officials. An 11 th human case of EEE has also been confirmed. Massachusetts Department of Public Health said an Essex County resident in their 70 s has died. The victim was the ninth confirmed human case of the virus.The 11 th case of EEE was confirmed in a man in his 70 s from Charlton. As a result, the risk level for Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Leicester, Southbridge and Spencer have been elevated to high. State health officials confirmed the death of a Hampden County resident from the virus earlier this week, but no other information about the third victim was disclosed. Health officials has previously confirmed that a Freetown man in his 70 s and a Fairhaven woman in her 50 s died of the virus.There are now 35 communities now at critical risk, 46 at high risk and 122 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts.State health officials said this year is the worst outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts since the 1950 s.In addition to the 11 human cases of EEE this season in Massachusetts, there have been eight confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals – seven horses and a goat.There have been two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus.EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004 – 2006 and 2010 – 2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.EEE virus has been found in 422 mosquito samples this year, and many of them came from a species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people. An additional 83 mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus.The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has conducted aerial spraying over higher-risk communities.
BOSTON –
A fourth Massachusetts resident has died after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis this year, according to state health officials. An 11 th human case of EEE has also been confirmed.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health said an Essex County resident in their 70 s has died. The victim was the ninth confirmed human case of the virus.
The 11 th case of EEE was confirmed in a man in his 70 s from Charlton. As a result, the risk level for Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Leicester, Southbridge and Spencer have been elevated to high.
State health officials confirmed the death of aHampden County residentfrom the virus earlier this week, but no other information about the third victim was disclosed. Health officials has previously confirmed that aFreetown man in his 70 sand aFairhaven woman in her 50 sdied of the virus.
There are now35 communities now at critical risk, 46 at high risk and 122 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts.
State health officials said this year is the worst outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts since the 1950 s.
In addition to the 11 human cases of EEE this season in Massachusetts, there have been eight confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals – seven horses and a goat.
There have been two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus.
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004 – 2006 and 2010 – 2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.
EEE virus has been found in 422 mosquito samples this year, and many of them came from a species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people. An additional 83 mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has conducted aerial spraying over higher-risk communities.
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