Essex County Resident 4th EEE Fatality In Massachusetts

PEABODY, MA — An Essex County resident died from Eastern equine encephalitis, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Wednesday. It was the fourth fatality from the mosquito-borne virus in the state this year. Also on Thursday, state officials said there was an 11th confirmed case of the virus in a Worcester County man in his 70s.

The third fatality in Massachusetts was confirmed Tuesday. A Bristol County man in his 70s died last week from the virus and a Fairhaven woman also died from the virus. A 5-year-old Sudbury girl nearly died from the illness before recovering.

There are 35 communities at critical risk, 40 at high risk, and 128 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts. While EEE cases in humans are rare, it can be fatal or cause serious neurological problems.

The state map below shows EEE risk levels. Find more information on EEE in Massachusetts.