Laboratory tests have confirmed two new human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus infection bringing the total number of human cases to seven, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Friday.Officials said a Northborough woman in her 60s and a 5-year-old girl from Sudbury have been diagnosed. Officials said the girl is being treated at an area hospital and is in critical condition. The risk level in Framingham, Marlborough, Northborough, and Sudbury has been raised to critical and the risk level in Berlin, Boylston, Hudson, Maynard, Stow and Wayland has been raised to high.Health officials said it is believed the people were infected before aerial spraying was conducted in their communities. In total, there are 36 communities now at critical risk, 42 at high risk, and 115 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts. There have also been nine confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals; eight horses and one goat.All residents throughout the Commonwealth should continue to use mosquito repellent and those in high and critical risk communities should consider staying indoors during the dusk to dawn hours to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004-2006 and 2010-2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties. EEE virus has been found in 400 mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to people.

Laboratory tests have confirmed two new human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus infection bringing the total number of human cases to seven, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Friday.

Officials said a Northborough woman in her 60s and a 5-year-old girl from Sudbury have been diagnosed.




Officials said the girl is being treated at an area hospital and is in critical condition.

The risk level in Framingham, Marlborough, Northborough, and Sudbury has been raised to critical and the risk level in Berlin, Boylston, Hudson, Maynard, Stow and Wayland has been raised to high.



Health officials said it is believed the people were infected before aerial spraying was conducted in their communities.

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

In total, there are 36 communities now at critical risk, 42 at high risk, and 115 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts.

There have also been nine confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals; eight horses and one goat.

All residents throughout the Commonwealth should continue to use mosquito repellent and those in high and critical risk communities should consider staying indoors during the dusk to dawn hours to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.



EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004-2006 and 2010-2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.

EEE virus has been found in 400 mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to people.