Plymouth County Man Stricken With EEE
State health officials are confirming a fourth case of Eastern equine encephalitis in Massachusetts. The Department of Health said Thursday the Plymouth County man in his 60s is hospitalized. Officials also announced a 14th case of West Nile virus, in a Hampden County man in his 50s who has been discharged from a hospital. Both illnesses area carried by mosquitoes.
A Worcester County man in his 70s died of EEE last month. Because of the new cases, the DPH raised the mosquito threat level for EEE to ``high'' in Duxbury, Marshfield, Norwell and Plymouth, and urged cancellation of outdoor evening activities. The West Nile threat was raised to ``high'' in Agawam, Easthampton, Hadley, Northampton, Southampton, and Westfield.
New Bedford and other communities around the state have already been designated at higher risk for the mosquito-borne diseases. (Associated Press)