Health officials announced yesterday the first occurrence of the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease, and West Nile virus in the residents of Massachusetts.
According to Dr. Alfred DeMaria, state epidemiologist, last August 21, a 43-year old Plymouth County Man developed symptoms of the eastern equine encephalitis. The man was immediately admitted to the hospital and he is not yet released for further observation.
DeMaria stated that the patient is exposed to a mosquito infected by the EEE virus somewhere in southeastern Massachusetts. The area is identified as a place with elevated risks for mosquito-borne diseases. He said that these areas must be examined because more cases will be reported if the people will not be informed about the occurrence of the said disease.
According to Dr. Anita Barry, the director of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Infectious Disease Bureau, the test results that are returned yesterday confirmed the occurrence of West Nile virus in a 46-year-old woman from Boston. The woman showed symptoms of meningitis, an inflammation in the brain. The results came last August 18, 2010. The woman is hospitalized immediately on August 20, 2010 and she has improved easily so she is released immediately.
Dr. Barry left a reminder to the people that they must avoid mosquito bites. She said that these diseases can be prevented if they will perform preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites. According to reports, almost 10 human cases have been reported in Massachusetts for the past five years. The virus can infect people of all ages but the disease is more severe on people who are above 50 years of age.
There is no report of EEE infection last year but there are 13 cases with six deaths from the year 2004 to 2006.
