EEE Detected in Mass. First Time This Summer

Middleborough, MA — Summer is here—and so are EEE and West Nile Virus.

EEE was detected in mosquitoes in Middleborough in Plymouth County, state health officials announced Friday. Last week, West Nile Virus was detected in Wellesley. There have been no human cases of either virus so far this summer.

The viruses, transmitted by mosquito bites, can be deadly to humans. Symptoms range from fever to meningitis. Most troubling: there's no specific treatment.

State health officials said preventing mosquito bites is key and offered these tips:

• Using insect repellents
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing
• Scheduling outdoor activities to avoid the hours around dawn and dusk
• Repairing damaged window screens
• Removing standing water from the areas around your home

Subscribe to Patch news alerts

Here's more EEE and West Nile Virus information from the state Department of Public Health:

General Information and FAQs

Find basic information on mosquitoes in Massachusetts and the diseases they can carry.

Prevention and Control

Protect yourself from mosquitoes with these prevention methods.

Surveillance Plan, Summaries and Data

Information on surveillance for mosquito-borne disease in Massachusetts and annual surveillance summaries with data.

For Health Care Providers and Veterinarians

Clinical and specimen submission information.

Travel-related Mosquito-borne Diseases

Learn more about Zika virus, Dengue fever, Chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases you can get when traveling abroad.

Educational Materials

Downloadable educational tools to help raise awareness.

Helpful Links and Additional Resources

Links to external sites with more information.