Boston. Mosquito repellent is being sprayed in Worcester County tonight. Look. And in other parts of the state. Hours after health officials announced Massachusetts’ first human case in four years in Tripoli, Eastern Equine Esophagitis is a rare but serious disease that officials are calling a public health concern. Good evening, everyone. I’m Jessica Brown, Jennifer Penate. Ed and Maria are both off. The human patients were infected in Worcester County, and mosquitoes infected with the disease have been found in many other counties. Tonight, our Danae Bucci will be reporting live from Blackstone. There was a sprayer there. Danny. That’s right. Jennifer. A sprayer passed through here about an hour and a half ago, spraying insecticide to kill the harmful insects. The insecticide is raining down on more than a dozen streets in Blackstone. The town’s public health department says it has found a population of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus. This is not the only mosquito-borne disease that is posing a danger in some areas. The important thing is that there is no vaccine or treatment for triple E, so prevention is really very important. Public Health confirmed that a man in his 80s tested positive for triple E. This is the state’s first case since 2020, and doctors say symptoms can range from debilitating to deadly. They have fever, chills, and complain of headaches and joint pain. But one of the symptoms we see is that patients sometimes become a little confused or disoriented. They may have seizures. Neurologically, you see some changes. Officials say the man contracted the disease in Worcester County. Seven communities in Worcester County are now considered critical or high risk, but some residents say they’re not worried yet. I’m not that worried. I mean, if we start to see more cases, I’ll definitely protect myself when I go out. I also have bug spray, especially in the evening. I’ll zip up when I notice it. But no, I’m not that worried. Experts say to minimise your risk, you should wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers and consider wearing a jacket.
The Department of Public Health announced the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts this year. According to the Department of Public Health, the victim was identified as a man in his 80s who was infected in Worcester County. As a result, the risk level for EEE has been raised to critical in the communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster, and to high in Dudley, Northbridge and Uxbridge. The neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge and Upton are now considered moderate risk. “This is the first time since 2020 that we have seen someone infected with EEE in Massachusetts,” said Surgeon General Dr. Robbie Goldstein. “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern.” Though rare, EEE is a serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. Video: Massachusetts doctor talks about new EEE case and how to protect yourself EEE is typically transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. In Massachusetts, there were 12 EEE cases in 2019 with six deaths, and five cases in 2020 with one death. There have been no EEE cases in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023. The first EEE-positive mosquito in Massachusetts this season was announced by Carver on July 3. EEE-infected mosquitoes have also been confirmed so far in Abington, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Wareham, and Whitman in Plymouth County, Taunton and Westport in Bristol County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, Dedham in Norfolk County, Sudbury in Middlesex County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County. Health officials urge residents to use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn to avoid mosquito bites.
Worcester, Massachusetts —
The Department of Public Health announced that the first human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been confirmed in Massachusetts this year.
DPH said the victim has been identified as a man in his 80s who was infected in Worcester County.
As a result, the EEE risk level has been raised to severe in the communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster, and to high in Dudley, Northbridge and Uxbridge.
The neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge and Upton are currently considered to be at moderate risk.
“This is the first confirmed case of EEE in Massachusetts since 2020,” said Surgeon General Dr. Robbie Goldstein. “EEE is a rare but serious illness and a public health concern.”
EEE is a rare but serious, potentially fatal illness that can affect people of all ages.
Video: Massachusetts doctor explains new EEE case and how to protect yourself
EEE is typically transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Massachusetts saw 12 cases of EEE in 2019, six of which were fatal, and five cases in 2020, one of which was fatal.
There were no cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
The first EEE-positive mosquito of the season in Massachusetts was announced in Carver on July 3. Previously, EEE-infected mosquitoes have been confirmed in Abington, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Wareham and Whitman in Plymouth County, Taunton and Westport in Bristol County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, Dedham in Norfolk County, Sudbury in Middlesex County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County.
Health officials are urging people to use mosquito repellent to prevent bites and to avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
