A Western Massachusetts man has become the state’s first confirmed human case of West Nile virus and a horse exposed in Plymouth County is the state’s first confirmed animal case of Eastern equine encephalitis, state public health officials said Tuesday.
The man, who is in his 40s, was exposed to West Nile in Hampden County. The horse was exposed in Plymouth, the state Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Mosquito samples collected in the town of Dedham also tested positive for EEE. As a result, the risk for the virus in that town was raised to low, and the level in Plymouth to high, the statement said.
“Populations of mosquitoes that can carry and spread these viruses are large this year and we continue to see increases in the number of EEE- and WNV-positive mosquito samples throughout the state,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in the statement. “Residents should continue to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”
The state has raised the risk level for West Nile to moderate in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties, in addition to parts of Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Plymouth, and Worcester counties, the statement said.
The announcement comes just days after the state also issued an advisory of elevated risk levels in several other Massachusetts communities.
The EEE risk was raised to high in Carver and Middleborough and to moderate in Amesbury, Groveland, Halifax, Haverhill, Kingston, Merrimac, Newburyport, Plymouth, Plympton, Salisbury, Wareham, and West Newbury, the statement said.
West Nile was first detected this year on July 2 in Quincy and EEE was first detected this year on July 3 in Carver, the statement said.
Mosquitoes infected with EEE were previously found in Halifax and Kingston in Plymouth County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County, the statement said.
There have been animal cases of West Nile and no human cases of EEE. Both diseases are spread to humans by infected mosquitoes.
Residents are urged to protect themselves from the mosquito-borne viruses by taking several measures. People should apply mosquito repellent, watch for peak mosquito hours, wear clothing that covers the body, and install or repair screens to keep mosquitoes outside, the statement said.
Removing standing water from containers outside that can act as mosquito breeding sites and rescheduling outdoor activities during the evening or early morning was also recommended, the statement said.
“We continue to recommend taking steps to prevent mosquito bites until the first hard frost,” Dr. Catherine M. Brown, the state’s epidemiologist, said in the statement.
Kiera McDonald can be reached at [email protected].
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
