Advertisement

3rd Person In Massachusetts Dies From EEE This Year

A third Massachusetts resident has died of the mosquito-borne illness Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

The person lived in Hampden County, state Department of Public Health spokeswoman Ann Scales said in an email. No other identifying information has been released.

A Freetown man and a Fairhaven woman have also died within the last month after contracting EEE. Scales said the deaths are among the 10 total confirmed cases of the disease in the state.

Health officials have declared 35 cities and towns in the state at critical risk for EEE and another 40 at high risk, marking the most widespread outbreak yet of the disease in Massachusetts.

Risk levels for EEE Massachusetts cities and towns, as of Sept. 23, 2019, are shown. (Courtesy Massachusetts Department of Public Health)
Risk levels for EEE Massachusetts cities and towns, as of Sept. 23, 2019, are shown. (Courtesy Massachusetts Department of Public Health)

Residents in at-risk cities and towns are being advised to take precautions, including wearing mosquito repellent and rescheduling outdoor events planned between dusk and dawn.

Related:

Headshot of Laney Ruckstuhl

Laney Ruckstuhl Field Producer
Laney Ruckstuhl is the field producer for Morning Edition. She was formerly a digital producer.

More…

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close