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First human case of electrical and electronic equipment reported in Massachusetts since 2020

BOSTON. THE MOSQUITO SPRAYERS ARE IN OPERATION IN WORCESTER COUNTY TONIGHT. CHECK IT OUT. AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE TOO. HOURS AFTER HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED MASSACHUSETTS' FIRST HUMAN CASE OF TRIPOLI IN FOUR YEARS, EASTERN EQUESTRIAN ESOPHAGITIS IS A RARE BUT SERIOUS DISEASE THAT OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M JESSICA BROWN, I'M JENNIFER PENATE. ED AND MARIA ARE BOTH FREE. THE HUMAN PATIENT WAS EXPOSED IN WORCESTER COUNTY AND MOSQUITOES INFECTED WITH THE DISEASE HAVE BEEN FOUND IN MANY OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL. OUR DANAE BUCCI IS LIVE TONIGHT IN BLACKSTONE WHERE THE SPRAYERS WERE WORKING. DANNY. THAT'S RIGHT. JENNIFER. ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO A SPRAYER CAME BY HERE AND SPREAD PESTICIDE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO KILL THESE HARMFUL INSECTS. THAT PESTICIDE IS RAINING ON MORE THAN A DOZEN STREETS IN BLACKSTONE. THE CITY SAYS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOUND A COLLECTION OF MOSQUITOES CARRYING THE WEST NILE VIRUS. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE THAT IS A RISK IN SOME COMMUNITIES. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THERE ARE NO VACCINES OR TREATMENTS FOR TRIPLE E, SO PREVENTION IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS CONFIRMED A MAN IN HIS 80S TESTED POSITIVE FOR TRIPLE E. IT'S THE FIRST CASE IN THE STATE SINCE 2020, AND DOCTORS SAY THE SYMPTOMS CAN RANGE FROM DEBUILT TO FATAL. THEY HAVE A FEVER, THEY HAVE SHAKI, THEY COMPLAIN OF HEADACHES AND JOINT PAIN. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IS SOMETIMES THEY ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED OR DISORIENTATED. SOMETIMES THEY CAN HAVE SEIZURES. SO NEUROLOGICALLY WE SEE SOME CHANGES THERE. OFFICIALS SAY THE MAN WAS EXPOSED TO THE DISEASE IN WORCESTER COUNTY. SEVEN COMMUNITIES ARE NOW CONSIDERED CRITICAL OR HIGH RISK, BUT SOME RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED YET. IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ME NERVOUS. I MEAN, IF THERE WERE MORE CASES OF THIS, I WOULD DEFINITELY PROTECT MYSELF WHEN I GO OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENINGS. I HAVE SOME BUG SPRAY. IF I NOTICE IT, I'LL JUST ZIP UP. BUT NO, NO, I'M NOT TOO WORRIED. EXPERTS SAY TO MINIMIZE YOUR RISK, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WEARING LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS, LONG PANTS AND IRONING

The Department of Public Health has announced the first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) in Massachusetts this year. The DPH said the victim was a man in his 80s who was exposed to the virus in Worcester County. As a result, the risk level for EEE has been raised to critical in the communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster, and to high in Dudley, Northbridge and Uxbridge. Neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge and Upton are now considered moderate risk. “This is the first time we have seen a person infected with EEE in Massachusetts since 2020,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern.” Although EEE is rare, it is a serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. Video: Massachusetts doctor on new EEE case and how to protect yourself. EEE is generally transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. In 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts with six deaths, and in 2020, there were five human cases with one death. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The first EEE-positive mosquitoes of the season in Massachusetts were reported from Carver on July 3. EEE-infected mosquitoes were also previously identified in Abington, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Wareham, and Whitman in Plymouth County, Taunton and Westport in Bristol County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, Dedham in Norfolk County, Sudbury in Middlesex County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County. Health officials urge residents to use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn to prevent mosquito bites.

WORCESTER, Mass. —

The Department of Health announced the first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) in Massachusetts this year.

The DPH said the victim was a man in his 80s who was exposed to radiation in Worcester County.

As a result, the risk level for electrical and electronic equipment has been raised to ‘critical’ in the communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster and to ‘high’ in Dudley, Northbridge and Uxbridge.

The neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge and Upton are now considered to be at moderate risk.

“This is the first time we have seen a person infected with EEE in Massachusetts since 2020,” said Health Officer Dr. Robbie Goldstein. “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern.”

Although EEE is rare, it is a serious and potentially fatal condition that can affect people of all ages.

Video: Massachusetts doctor on new EEE case – How to protect yourself

EEE is generally transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. In 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts, resulting in six deaths; in 2020, there were five human cases, resulting in one death.

There were no human cases of electrical and electronic equipment exposure in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The first EEE-positive mosquitoes of the season in Massachusetts were reported from Carver on July 3. EEE-infected mosquitoes were also previously identified in Abington, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Wareham and Whitman in Plymouth County, Taunton and Westport in Bristol County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, Dedham in Norfolk County, Sudbury in Middlesex County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County.

Health authorities urge the population to use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn to avoid mosquito bites.

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