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4 More Mass. Communities At 'High' Risk For EEE

The state health department is advising four more southeastern Massachusetts communities to curtail outdoor evening events because of risk from mosquitoes with Eastern equine encephalitis.

Health officials said Thursday that mammal-biting mosquitoes carrying EEE were found in Easton, Raynham, Taunton and West Bridgewater.

A Weymouth woman in her 80s who recently died had the only confirmed human case of EEE this year. There were seven in 2012.

Last week the department raised the risk level to "high" for Hanover, Hanson, Rockland, Weymouth and Whitman.

Belchertown in western Massachusetts was earlier deemed at "critical" risk after EEE was found in two horses, and nearby Amherst was rated "high."

Officials say people should use insect repellent, protective clothing and avoid being outdoors at dusk and nighttime when mosquitoes are most active.

This program aired on August 30, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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