Massachusetts health officials say they have confirmed the first case of West Nile virus in the state this season.

    The health department said Monday that a Plymouth County man in his 70s has the mosquito-borne illness and is recovering in a hospital.

    There were 33 cases of West Nile in the state last year. Symptoms of the virus are fever and flu-like illness. 

    Officials said last week that a Norfolk County woman in her 80s who recently died was the first case of Eastern equine encephalitis this year.

    EEE is a more severe mosquito-borne illness that can lead to inflammation of the brain. There were seven cases of EEE in Massachusetts last year, and at least two deaths.

    At least one person with an underlying medical condition died of West Nile last year.
 (Associated Press)

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