State public health officials on Wednesday announced the fourth death from Eastern equine encephalitis and the 11th human case of the mosquito-borne virus so far this year.
The Department of Public Health said it had been notified by a hospital of the death of an Essex County resident from EEE.
DPH also announced that laboratory testing had confirmed the 11th human case of the virus: a Worcester County man in his 70s. The communities of Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Leicester, Southbridge and Spencer have been elevated to high risk, officials said.
“Although mosquito populations are declining at this time of year, risk from EEE will continue until the first hard frost,” state Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown said in a statement. “We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites.”
There are now 35 Massachusetts communities at critical risk, 46 at high risk and 122 at moderate risk for the virus.
There also have been eight confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals: seven horses and a goat.
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has completed aerial spraying to kill mosquitoes for the season. Spraying has been done in parts of Bristol, Plymouth, Middlesex, Norfolk, Worcester, Hampden and Hampshire counties. Some risk will continue until there is a hard frost.
Many municipalities and school districts have canceled outdoor sports and other events from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most prevalent. If you must be outdoors between those hours, officials recommend wearing long pants, long sleeves, socks and an insect repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET.
Animal guardians should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by draining standing water from containers. Horses should be kept in indoor stalls at night.
For the most up-to-date information on EEE, visit www.mass.gov/eee.
