Saturday, September 7, 2019
New Human Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis EEE
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that laboratory testing has confirmed two new cases of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection. A woman in her 60s from eastern Worcester County and a female under the age of 18 from southwestern Middlesex County have tested positively for the disease. This brings the total number of human cases of EEE to 7 this year in Massachusetts.
As a result, the risk level in Framingham, Marlborough, Northborough, and Sudbury has been raised to critical and the risk level in Berlin, Boylston, Hudson, Maynard, Stow, and Wayland has been raised to high. In total, there are 36 communities now at critical risk, 42 at high risk, and 115 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts. A map of the state’s current EEE risk levels can be found here.
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. All residents throughout the Commonwealth should continue to use mosquito repellent and those in high and critical risk communities should consider staying indoors during the dusk to dawn hours to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
DPH urges residents to remain vigilant in reducing potential exposure to mosquitoes. For the most up-to-date information, Q&As, and downloadable fact sheets in multiple languages visit the DPH webpage https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts.
