Report: Second Massachusetts Resident Dies from EEE

The second person this year has died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports.

The second person this year has died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports. The victim has been identified as Charlene Manseau, 63, of Amesbury, according to the Newburyport Daily News. Manseau's family told the paper she may have had a weakened immune system due to recent cancer treatment (Read the full report). Manseau died Saturday. In all,  have been recorded this year in the state, along with 19 human cases of West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus was found in a mosquito pool in Melrose in July; it is the second consecutive year the virus was found in insects in the city. The state's Department of Public Health raised the West Nile Virus threat level to "high" in early September shortly after…

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First West Nile Death in Mass. Since 2005, Threat Level Raised Statewide

A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness.

The first death of a Massachusetts resident due to West Nile Virus (WNV) since 2005 and additional human cases have led state officials to raise the threat level statewide to at least 'moderate." A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Friday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this gentleman during this difficult time," Worcester Division of Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Michael Hirsh said in a DPH press release. "While we have been fortunate that we have seen a very low number of human West Nile cases, on rare occasion WNV can be very serious. …

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Are You Worried About Contracting West Nile Virus?

What precautions have you taken to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites?

While there are no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Melrose, nine cases have been identified in surrounding communities. The virus usually manifests like a flu-like illness and may be more severe in people over 50, according to Melrose Public Health Nurse Karen Cronin.  Are you worried about contracting the virus, now that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has raised the threat level for West Nile Virus from moderate to high in Melrose?  Let us know in the comments section if you've been wearing long sleeves or using a mosquito repellent containing DEET. 

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Mark Ouellette

12:59 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012

Al, There are two story links (one of which was posted earlier in the day before the question was asked) in this post to add substantive information about West Nile, which is why we then followed up with the question asking folks if they were concerned about West Nile. All you have to do is click on the said links instead of skimming over them and you have precisely what you were looking for.   more ›

Three More Human Cases of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Middlesex County

Officials are urging the public to take precautions against West Nile virus.

Three More Human Cases of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Middlesex County

Officials are urging the public to take precautions against West Nile virus.

Three more human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Middlesex County and the threat level is being raised in several communitites, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  In response, the DPH has raised the WNV threat level to "high" in the following communities: Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus and Winthrop. Also, the threat level is being raised to "moderate" in other towns: Bedford, Burlington, Lincoln, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester and Woburn. WNV mosquito cases have been confirmed in 97 towns statewide this year and the state on pace to have the highest number of cases since 2000, according to the DPH.  Below are precautions to take against contracting West Nile …

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Year's Second West Nile Virus Human Case Found in Middlesex County

West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been found in 67 communities, including Melrose, from nine counties so far during 2012.

An unidentified Cambridge man in his 70s is the second person in Middlesex County to be infected by the West Nile Virus this year, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. The man remained hospitalized as of last week, according to a DHHS press statement. "The announcement is a compelling indicator that the threat of mosquito-borne illness is widespread, and people should continue taking simple, common-sense steps to protect themselves and their families against mosquito bites," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach in the statement. "Use insect repellant, cover exposed skin, and avoid outdoor activities at dusk and after nightfall when mosquitoes are their most active." West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been …

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Melrose Area Communities Taking Steps to Combat EEE, West Nile Virus

While the town may not be spraying, Melrose and nearby communities are taking other measures to combat the spread of EED or West Nile Virus.

With West Nile Virus and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) being found in dozens of locations in Massachusetts, Melrose and nearby communities are stepping up efforts to combat the spread of either virus. West Nile Virus Found in Melrose, Other Communities On July 24 testing revealed West Nile Virus in mosquito pools in Medford, Malden and Melrose, according to state data. For the second consecutive year the virus was discovered in Medford and Melrose. The virus was detected in mosquitoes near the Stoneham-Melrose border last year, while the virus was discovered in mosquito pools near Ravine Road. A week after being found in the City this year, all catch basins in Melrose were treated with a larvacide to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes …

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Middlesex County Man Infected by West Nile Virus

It's the first human case of WNV in Massachusetts this year.

An unidentified man from Middlesex County is this year's first person to be infected by the West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. The man is in his 60s and lives in a community north of Boston, according to a press statement from the Department of Health and Human Services Aug. 15. The man was diagnosed with West Nile Virus in late July, the statement said; he remains hospitalized but is recovering. Testing conducted on July 24 found the virus in mosquito pools in Medford, Malden and Melrose, according to state data. It is the second consecutive year the virus was found in Medford and Melrose. The virus was found in mosquitoes near the Stoneham-Melrose border last year, while …

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West Nile Virus Detected in Melrose Mosquito Pools

The virus has been isolated from three pools on Ravine Road and Swains Pond Avenue, and the Melrose Health Department offers protection tips.

West Nile Virus has been isolated from three mosquito pools in Melrose located on Ravine Road and Swains Pond Avenue, the Melrose Health Department announced in a press release on Thursday. The state Department of Public Health reported the finding on Thursday, the Health Department said in the release. Next week, all catchbasins in Melrose will be treated with a larvacide to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in those environments. West Nile Virus detection in Melrose isn't new—the virus was detected in a mosquito pool in the city last August and a middle-aged woman became ill with the virus last September, was briefly hospitalized and discharged. The Health Department said Thursday's announcement should "serve as warning" about the …

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Human Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Melrose

The middle-aged woman became ill on Sept. 13 and was briefly hospitalized, but has been discharged and is expected to recover, according to a Melrose Health Department press release.

Information from a Melrose Health Department press release was used in this report. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced today the first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Melrose this year, the Melrose Health Department said in a press release. The middle-aged woman became ill on Sept. 13 and was briefly hospitalized but has been discharged and is expected to recover, the release stated. In August, health officials announced that a mosquito pool in Melrose on the Melrose/Stoneham line tested positive for West Nile. The State Laboratory Institute performs testing for West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in mosquitoes each summer, according to the state Department of Public Health, and testing for virus…

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