Health officials reported that a fourth case of the deadly sickness spread by mosquitoes was confirmed in Massachusetts on Monday.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was reported to have struck a man in his 50s on Monday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The individual resides in Middlesex County, an area where EEE is very susceptible.
In 2024, at least five states nationwide—Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Hampshire, and New Jersey—reported having cases of EEE. People can contract EEE by being bitten by an infected mosquito.
“There is a great deal of concern in communities throughout Massachusetts due to this year’s exceptionally active EEE season,” stated Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, in a statement. “EEE is still a rare disease, but there are several communities where the risk is higher.”
“We advise people to take appropriate precautions in areas of elevated risk, as the weather forecast calls for warm, sunny conditions for the remainder of the week,” Goldstein said. “This includes suggesting that cities and residents in high-risk areas for EEE reschedule their nightly outside activities to avoid the hours when mosquitoes bite the most, which is from twilight to dawn.”
According to the DPH of Massachusetts, 91 samples tested positive for EEE this year. According to health experts, the Bay State had its most recent outbreak in 2019–2020. Seven people lost their lives out of the 17 human cases. In addition to the four human cases reported in the state this year, two horses in Massachusetts tested positive for EEE.
The United States typically experiences three to fifteen cases annually, with an average of roughly seven cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven cases were found the previous year.
