Mosquito-Borne Virus's Early Arrival Presents New Health Concern

MASSACHUSETTS — Early detection of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus — or EEE — has state health officials worried about a new threat as people flock outdoors for quarantine relief and to avoid potential indoor spread of COVID-19.

Two mosquitoes in western Massachusetts have already tested positive for the illness, the earliest detection in two decades. Officials worry it may mean 2019's active EEE season could be outdone by 2020's.

"Although the world has changed in many different ways since 2019, it's important for us now to get back to thinking about EEE and the preventive measures we all need to take," Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said in a news conference in Plymouth.

A mosquito in Orange tested positive for EEE on July 1, the earliest it's been detected in Massachusetts in two decades. A mosquito in Wendell tested positive days later. Both communities are in Franklin County. The EEE risk has been elevated to "moderate" in Athol, New Salem, Orange and Wendell.

The first EEE case found in humans last year was early August. The first West Nile Virus case found in humans was early September.

The 2019 EEE season was the state's most active since the 1950s, Bharel said. Twelve people tested positive for EEE and six died from the virus.

Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation in April focused on bringing the state's approach to EEE and West Nile Virus up to speed. A Senate-passed bill focused on mosquito-borne virus control is now before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Information from the State House News Service was used in this report