New cases of EEE, West Nile reported in Mass.; Risk levels raised [Video]

Massachusetts health officials raised the risk levels on Thursday for mosquito-borne illnesses Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus in several communities after announcing one new case of each virus. Both cases are men in their 70s in Middlesex County, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.One man was diagnosed with EEE, becoming the third person in the state to contract that disease this year. Acton’s Board of Health confirmed the EEE case was confirmed in their community. Another man contracted West Nile virus in a part of the county already designated to be at high risk for that disease. His case is the seventh human case of that virus in the state this year, MassDPH said.“Today’s announcement of additional West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis cases makes it clear that mosquito season is not over,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein.As a result, EEE risk levels …