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Second human EEE case confirmed in Massachusetts; 10 new communities at critical risk

Second human EEE case confirmed in Massachusetts; 10 new communities at critical risk
LIKELY HAVE TO BE CUT SHORT, CANCELED, OR MOVED INSIDE. UNTIL THE FIRST FROST KILLS OFF MOSQUITOES, SUMMER LIKELY WON’T BE THE SAME. THIS COMMUNITY YARD SALE IN GRAFTON WENT AHEAD AS PLANNED. BUT THE ORGANIZER KEPT A CAN OF BUG SPRAY HANDY. >> IT’S CONCERNING. BUT I THINK THAT YOU JUST NEED TO BE SMART. DAVID: STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED A MAN FROM GRAFTON BETWEEN THE AGES OF 19 AND 30 HAS COME DOWN WITH EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS, A SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL BRAIN INFECTION THAT’S SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES. A FEW DAYS EARLIER ANOTHER MAN, FROM ROCHESTER, BECAME MASSACHUSETTS’ FIRST CASE OF TRIPLE-E SINCE 2012. >> I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY REASON TO PANIC NECESSARILY. BUT YOU WEAR LONG SLEEVES, BE CONCIOUS OF WHERE YOU’RE GOING, BRING YOUR BUG SPRAY. DAVID: THE STATE SAYS 19 COMMUNITIES ARE A CRITICAL RISK FOR TRIPLE-E AND ANOTHER 42 AT HIGH OR MODERATE RISK. GRAFTON’S BOARD OF HEALTH IS RECOMMENDING CANCELLING ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. OR AT LEAST RESCHEDULING THEM TO AVOID DUSK AND DAWN WHEN MOSQUITOES ARE MOST ACTIVE. >> DURING THE WEEK AFTER WORK, WE ARE HERE 5:30 P.M., 6:00. SO I GUESS THAT’S PRIME TIME FOR MOSQUITOES, RIGHT? DAVID: SO WILL YOU BE DOING THAT FROM NOW ON? >> WELL, MAYBE THERE’S SOME DEET YOU CAN SPRAY ON YOURSELF? >> MAN, WELL, THIS IS THE ELECTRIC ONE? >> YES. DAVID: AT THIS HARDWARE STORE IN GRAFTON, THE MANAGER PREDICTS AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC SWATTERS AND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT KILL MOSQUITOES OR KEEP THEM AWAY. PROBABLY WITH THE WARNING IN >> PLACE NOW, WE’LL SEE IT GO UP. ABSOLUTELY, AS LONG AS THE WARNING’S PLACE AND THEY KEEP DOING THE TESTING AND FINDING TH
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Second human EEE case confirmed in Massachusetts; 10 new communities at critical risk
A second human case of Eastern equine encephalitis virus infection has been confirmed in Massachusetts, according to the state's Department of Public Health.The department said a man between the ages of 19 and 30 from eastern Worcester County has been infected with the second human case of EEE this year.The Grafton Board of Health confirmed that the man who tested positive is a resident of the town.As a result, the EEE risk level in seven nearby communities has been raised to critical.In addition, a young goat in Bristol County tested positive for the disease, raising the risk to critical in three additional communities within the county.The Norton Board of Health said an animal in the town tested positive for EEE. Norton is closing all town forests, parks and ball fields from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. until further notice.The 10 new communities now at critical risk are Grafton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton and Westborough in Worcester County; Hopkinton in Middlesex County; and Easton, Norton and Raynham in Bristol County.The Department of Public Health raised the EEE risk level to high in Framingham and Marlborough in Middlesex County and in Millbury, Northborough and Sutton in Worcester County.On Sunday, the department confirmed the first human case of EEE in Massachusetts in six years after a man older than 60 from southern Plymouth County tested positive. The man's family said he is a resident of Rochester.After the first human case, nine communities in southeastern Massachusetts were raised to critical EEE risk level: Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Middleborough, Rochester and Wareham in Plymouth County and Acushnet, Freetown and New Bedford in Bristol County.The DPH is working with the local boards of health and mosquito control projects, along with other mosquito control experts, to coordinate surveillance and discuss the appropriate level of response. “The most intense level of EEE activity is still being seen in Bristol and Plymouth counties,” said Dr. Monica Bharel, the public health commissioner. “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."The towns of Andover, Hanson and Walpole also confirmed Friday that mosquitoes located in their communities have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis.The Andover Health Division was notified Friday that two mosquito pools in the Abbot Street area tested positive for the EEE virus. The mosquitoes tested were trapped on Tuesday and were of a species that is known to bite humans.The DPH announced Friday that the EEE virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from Hanson and Walpole. The department did not say what areas of Hanson Walpole the mosquitoes were collected from.As of Friday, the department said Hanson, which is located in Plymouth County, had a moderate EEE risk level. Walpole, which is located in Norfolk County, and Andover, which is in Essex County, both had a low EEE risk as of Friday.There are now 19 Massachusetts communities at critical EEE risk, 18 at high risk and 24 at moderate risk, according to the Department of Public Health. Public health officials say people across the state should continue to use mosquito repellent and those in high- and critical-risk communities should consider staying indoors during the hours from dusk to dawn to reduce exposure.Last week, the DPH and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources conducted aerial spraying in specific areas of Bristol and Plymouth counties to reduce the mosquito population and public health risk. Aerial spraying began Aug. 8 and was completed the night of Aug. 11. A second round of aerial spraying is being planned for later next week.Residents are encouraged to visit the Department of Public Health website at this link for the latest updates on spraying in their communities.Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. The EEE virus has been found in 288 mosquito samples this year, many of them from a species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people.The most recent EEE outbreak periods in Massachusetts occurred from 2004-06 and 2010-12. According to the DPH, there were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.

A second human case of Eastern equine encephalitis virus infection has been confirmed in Massachusetts, according to the state's Department of Public Health.

The department said a man between the ages of 19 and 30 from eastern Worcester County has been infected with the second human case of EEE this year.

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The Grafton Board of Health confirmed that the man who tested positive is a resident of the town.

As a result, the EEE risk level in seven nearby communities has been raised to critical.

In addition, a young goat in Bristol County tested positive for the disease, raising the risk to critical in three additional communities within the county.

The Norton Board of Health said an animal in the town tested positive for EEE. Norton is closing all town forests, parks and ball fields from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. until further notice.

The 10 new communities now at critical risk are Grafton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton and Westborough in Worcester County; Hopkinton in Middlesex County; and Easton, Norton and Raynham in Bristol County.

The Department of Public Health raised the EEE risk level to high in Framingham and Marlborough in Middlesex County and in Millbury, Northborough and Sutton in Worcester County.

On Sunday, the department confirmed the first human case of EEE in Massachusetts in six years after a man older than 60 from southern Plymouth County tested positive. The man's family said he is a resident of Rochester.

After the first human case, nine communities in southeastern Massachusetts were raised to critical EEE risk level: Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Middleborough, Rochester and Wareham in Plymouth County and Acushnet, Freetown and New Bedford in Bristol County.

The DPH is working with the local boards of health and mosquito control projects, along with other mosquito control experts, to coordinate surveillance and discuss the appropriate level of response.

“The most intense level of EEE activity is still being seen in Bristol and Plymouth counties,” said Dr. Monica Bharel, the public health commissioner. “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."

The towns of Andover, Hanson and Walpole also confirmed Friday that mosquitoes located in their communities have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis.

The Andover Health Division was notified Friday that two mosquito pools in the Abbot Street area tested positive for the EEE virus. The mosquitoes tested were trapped on Tuesday and were of a species that is known to bite humans.

The DPH announced Friday that the EEE virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from Hanson and Walpole. The department did not say what areas of Hanson Walpole the mosquitoes were collected from.

As of Friday, the department said Hanson, which is located in Plymouth County, had a moderate EEE risk level.

Walpole, which is located in Norfolk County, and Andover, which is in Essex County, both had a low EEE risk as of Friday.

There are now 19 Massachusetts communities at critical EEE risk, 18 at high risk and 24 at moderate risk, according to the Department of Public Health.

Public health officials say people across the state should continue to use mosquito repellent and those in high- and critical-risk communities should consider staying indoors during the hours from dusk to dawn to reduce exposure.

Last week, the DPH and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources conducted aerial spraying in specific areas of Bristol and Plymouth counties to reduce the mosquito population and public health risk.

Aerial spraying began Aug. 8 and was completed the night of Aug. 11. A second round of aerial spraying is being planned for later next week.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Department of Public Health website at this link for the latest updates on spraying in their communities.

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. The EEE virus has been found in 288 mosquito samples this year, many of them from a species of mosquito capable of spreading the virus to people.

The most recent EEE outbreak periods in Massachusetts occurred from 2004-06 and 2010-12. According to the DPH, there were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.