More EEE, West Nile Virus Cases Reported In Massachusetts

Massachusetts health officials say a sixth human case of Eastern equine encephalitis has been confirmed in the state, and the 16th of West Nile virus. The state health department said Thursday an Amesbury woman in her 60s is hospitalized with EEE. The newly confirmed West Nile case is a Middlesex County man in his 60s who has been released from the hospital. One person has died from each of the mosquito-borne diseases earlier this summer.

The new cases led the health department to raise the threat level for EEE to ``critical'' in Amesbury, Haverhill and Merrimac, and to ``high'' for West Nile in Stoneham and Winchester. Communities around the state have received similar warnings. Those deemed at ``critical'' risk from mosquitoes have been urged to cancel outdoor evening activities until after the first hard frost. (Associated Press)