Fourth human case of EEE reported in eastern Mass.

A man from Middlesex County in his 50s has Eastern equine encephalitis, marking the fourth human case of the virus in Massachusetts, state officials said.

“This year’s EEE season has been particularly active and is generating a lot of concern in communities across Massachusetts,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. “While EEE remains a rare disease, the risk level is elevated in multiple communities. With the weather forecast showing warm, sunny weather for the rest of the week, we recommend that people take necessary precautions in areas of elevated risk.”

Goldstein recommended people reschedule evening outdoor events in areas that are at a high risk for EEE, since the peak time for mosquitoes to be out is from dusk to dawn.

There have been 91 EEE-positive mosquito samples in Massachusetts this year, the state’s Department of Public Health said. Although most of the activity has been in Plymouth and Worcester counties, infected mosquitos have also been found in Bristol, Essex, and Middlesex counties.

• Read More: More cases of EEE, West Nile Virus in Mass., risk levels rise in municipalities

There were no risk level changes made in connection with the Sept. 9 EEE announcement, the DPH said.

Humans can get EEE if they are bitten by an infected mosquito. The last outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts happened from 2019 to 2020 and led to 17 human infections and seven deaths, the DPH added. In addition to the four human cases that have occurred this year, EEE has also been found in two horses.

How to avoid mosquito bites

The department suggests people use insect repellent when outside. The repellant should be made with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET, permethrin, picaridin or oil from lemon eucalyptus.

DEET products should not be used on babies younger than 2 months old and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older kids. Oil of lemon eucalyptus shouldn’t be used on kids younger than 3.

People should also wear long-sleeved clothes to prevent mosquito bites. They should also remove standing water from their homes and install window screens to keep mosquitos out of their homes, the state advised.