[ad_1]
WORCESTER (CBS) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed a second human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the state on Friday. The authorities have also raised the level of "critical" risk for EEE in 10 other cities in central and eastern Massachusetts.
The ministry said the new EEA case involved a man aged 19 to 30 in Grafton. As a result, Grafton, Hopkinton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Upton and Westboro all have a "critical risk" of EEE.
The wife of the Grafton man who has been diagnosed with an EEE says he is 20 years old and lives near a farm. The couple asked not to be identified, but told WBZ that he had been diagnosed after a seizure.
A Bristol County goat was also tested positive in the EEA, which led officials to put Easton, Norton and Raynham also in critical danger. A total of 19 communities across the state are currently at a critical risk and 18 at a high risk.
The EEE Risk Map (Image Credit: Massachusetts Department of Public Health)
The department said it was working with local health boards and mosquito control experts to work on "appropriate public health intervention activities."
"The most intense level of EEE activity is still observed in Bristol and Plymouth counties," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel in a statement. "However, during the active years of EEE, the virus can move outside of southeastern Massachusetts. This is evidence of this movement, and residents of the area at increased risk must use a mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities at night. "
Less than a week ago, the department had confirmed the first human case of EEE in Massachusetts since 2013. The infected man was over 60 years old and lived in southern Plymouth County .
Until now, the EEE has been found in 288 mosquito samples.
"The history, here in Massachusetts, mosquitoes are positive, but this is not the case for people, so it's a bit unusual," said Dr. Michael Hirsh of the Worcester Public Health Division.
He said that time may be to blame. "Whenever a winter is not really frozen, even though it's a lot softer, mosquitoes are not really eliminated from last year."
Residents must make efforts to avoid mosquito bites, which can spread to EEE, including using an insect repellent, being informed of mosquito rush hours (from dusk to dawn), wearing a shirt long-sleeved and pants on the outside, drains stagnant water around the house, window paid off. screens and protect your animals from mosquitoes.
The symptoms of EEE can range from stiff neck, headache and lack of energy to dangerous complications such as inflammation and swelling of the brain.
The risk of EEE will persist until the first killing frost.
[ad_2]
Source link