Mosquito in Westport Tests Positive For EEE Virus

WESTPORT- A mosquito tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in Westport on Tuesday. It's the first time in 2017 that EEE has been found in a mosquito in Massachusetts says the Massachusetts Department of Health.

State health officials said that the discovery of EEE in one mosquito doesn't currently indicate an elevated risk to the public. However, officials still urge people to be precautionary and to use bug spray when needed.

Though it is rare, EEE can be a very serious and potentially fatal disease to all ages of people, typically spread when an infected mosquito bites a human.

Dr. Catherine Brown, the Deputy State Epidemiologist for the state says that more reports of EEE could possibly come in based on the timing of the first findings of the disease this year.

"We have been fortunate over the last several years not to have much evidence of EEE activity,"  said Dr. Brown.  "The fact that we are just finding evidence of EEE virus this late in the season indicates that trend might continue."

According to the health department, mosquito trapping and testing will continue in the area throughout the summer.