Eastern Equine Encephalitis Found In 4th Cape Cod Town

WELLFLEET, MA — Eastern equine encephalitis has been found in a second mosquito sample collected on the Outer Cape. The rare and potentially deadly virus, known as EEE, was detected in a sampling taken in the Wellfleet, according to the Cape Cod Times. It was also found in the Head of the Meadow area in Truro and in Bourne last month.

An official with the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project told the Times because of the season change, potentially infected birds are traveling and congregating at night. That means "there is a risk for disease transmission anywhere on Cape Cod," the Times reported.

Cases of EEE occur sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreaks happening from 2004 to 2006 and 2010 to 2012, according to the Department of Public Health. So far this year, four Massachusetts residents have contracted the virus, including a fatal case in Fairhaven.

Symptoms include fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis, convulsions and coma, the CDC said. Approximately a third of all people with EEE die from the virus, and many who recover experience lingering neurological issues, according to the agency.

Several pools in Falmouth tested positive for EEE earlier this summer, prompting the town to spray pesticides to combat its mosquito population. Falmouth, Bourne and Truro are at moderate risk for EEE.