GRAFTON – On Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH] announced that laboratory testing confirmed the second case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection, in a male between the ages of 19-30 from eastern Worcester County.
In a separate press release, the Town of Grafton confirmed that the male infected with EEE virus was from their town.
This is the second human case of EEE in Massachusetts this year.
According to the DPH, there are ten communities now at critical risk for EEE – including the Central Mass. towns of Grafton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton and Westborough.
Hopkinton, Easton, Norton and Raynham are also at critical risk.
Framingham, Marlborough, Millbury, Northborough and Sutton are considered at high risk.
“The most intense level of EEE activity is still being seen in Bristol and Plymouth Counties,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “However, in active EEE years, the virus may move outside of southeastern Massachusetts. This is evidence of that movement, and residents in the area of increased risk should use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities at night. ”
Across Massachusetts there are 19 communities now at critical risk, 18 at high risk, and 24 at moderate risk for the EEE virus as determined by DPH.
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 288 mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to people.
The DPH is working with the local boards of health and local Mosquito Control Projects and other mosquito control experts to coordinate surveillance and discuss appropriate public health response activities.
All residents are reminded that they 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.
Lead photo credit: John Tann on Visualhunt.com / CC BY
Follow us on The016.com, the social network for Worcester and you!
