Second confirmed case of EEE found; risk levels unaffected, Mass. DPH says

A woman in her 30s and a horse are the second confirmed cases of Eastern equine encephalitis in the Bay State, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Thursday afternoon.

The horse and the woman were both exposed to EEE in an area of ​​Plymouth County that was aerially sprayed Tuesday night, the department said in a statement. But both of them were infected before the spraying happened.

Even after the announcement of the new EEE cases, there aren't any risk level changes tied to these findings, the Department added.

There have been 76 EEE-positive mosquito samples so far this year from municipalities in Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, and Worcester counties, according to the department.

“This evidence of the spread of EEE to a person and a horse in Plymouth County before aerial spraying confirms risk in the area,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. “We expect that the aerial spraying will help prevent risk for EEE from continuing to escalate in the area, but it does not eliminate it completely. We are asking people to be consistent about taking steps to prevent mosquito bites.”

• Read More: You are first to get EEE in Mass. in 4 years; state ups risk levels

Although EEE is rare, it can be a fatal disease that can affect anyone at any age, the state's public health officials said. EEE is usually spread to humans after an infected mosquito has infected them. The first case of someone with EEE occurred this year from a man in his 80s in southern Worcester County.

“EEE risk does not end on Labor Day,” state epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown said in a statement. “People should continue to use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient any time they are outdoors. As the weather gets cooler it will be easier to wear long sleeves and pants to reduce exposed skin. We continue to strongly advise that individuals in areas where EEE risk is at high and critical levels reschedule evening outdoor events to avoid peak mosquito biting hours.”

How to avoid mosquito bites

The department suggests that 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 two months old and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older kids. Oil of lemon eucalyptus shouldn't be used on children under three.

The department also suggested that people reschedule any outdoor activities during peak mosquito-biting times — dusk to dawn.

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 mosquitoes out of their homes.