Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Detected In MA

MASSACHUSETTS — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today confirmed the presence of Eastern equine encephalitis for the first time this year.

The virus was confirmed in mosquito samples collected June 30 in the town of Carver in Plymouth County, health officials said. No human or animal cases of EEE have been detected so far this year, but the positive identification of the virus comes earlier in the year than usual.

As of Wednesday, the risk level of EEE has been increased from low to moderate in the communities of Carver, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, and Wareham, according to officials.

"The last EEE outbreak cycle in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020 and since then, there have been no human cases of EEE reported in the state," Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. said Wednesday. "Today's finding alerts us to the presence of EEE in Massachusetts this year. Combined with yesterday’s announcement of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in Massachusetts, we are asking everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites."

Among those recommended precautions, according to officials, is to "use mosquito repellent when they are spending time outdoors so they can celebrate the July 4th holiday and enjoy the rest of the summer without being bitten."

Experts also warn people to limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water.

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"EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages," according to health officials. It is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.

There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths; in 2020, there were five human cases and one death, officials said. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

"EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles," State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown said. "When EEE is found in mosquitoes like this at the start of the season, the risk may increase throughout the rest of the summer. We rely on our mosquito surveillance program to monitor for the presence of virus to let people know when and where the risk is occurring."