Sixteenth Human Case of West Nile Virus Reported in MA

Marlborough continues to impose restrictions on night-time use of city parks and fields as EEE continues to plague Massachusetts.

Earlier today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health sent out an announcement regarding a 16th case of the West Nile Virus and the sixth case of EEE in humans.

The most recent EEE patient is an Amesbury woman in her 60s.

"There have now been six confirmed human cases of EEE in Massachusetts residents so far this year, including one case that resulted in the death of a Worcester County man in his 70s," the release from the state said. "There were two cases of EEE in August of last year acquired in Massachusetts; a fatal case in a Bristol County man and an infection in a tourist from out of state."

The most recent report of WNV comes out of the Stoneham/Winchester area where male in his 60s has been treated and discharged.

"These cases only underscore the fact that mosquito-borne illness remains a serious threat in Massachusetts and will continue to be until the first hard overnight frost," DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Al DeMaria said. "People need to continue to use insect repellant, cover up exposed skin, and avoid being outdoors at dusk and after nightfall when mosquitoes are at their most active."