The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that it has found the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in mosquito samples collected in Carver on June 30.
No human or animal cases of EEE have been detected so far this year.
The Carver findings increase the risk level of EEE to moderate in the communities of Carver, Kingston, Plympton, Middleborough, Plymouth, and Wareham.
Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, said, “Today’s finding alerts us to the presence of EEE in Massachusetts this year. Combined with the announcement of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in Massachusetts, we are asking everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites.” The commissioner further recommended that people use mosquito repellent when they are spending time outdoors so they can safely enjoy outdoor summertime activities without being bitten.
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. It is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the DPH there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019, with six deaths. In 2020, there were five human cases and one death. There have been no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown said the EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles. “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.”
There are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites, and the illnesses they can cause.
Protect yourself from illness by doing simple things:
• Use insect repellents any time you are outdoors
• Wear long-sleeved clothing
• Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours from dusk to dawn during peak mosquito season
• Repair damaged window and door screens
• Remove standing water from the areas around your home
Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas.
Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.