PROVIDENCE – As of Aug. 29, the risk of Eastern equine encephalitis was declared critical in the Bristol County, Mass., municipalities of Acushnet, Easton, Freetown, New Bedford, Norton and Raynham, according to the Mass. Department of Public Health.
The Mass. DPH also confirmed four new cases of the disease in horses in the municipalities of Holliston, Medfield, Brookfield and Granby, Mass., resulting in the elevation of risk levels in those areas.
In Bristol County, municipalities with the designation of “high” risk were Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth and Taunton. The southern shore of Acushnet was also designated “high,” rather than critical like the rest of the town. The remainder of Bristol County, Mass., was determined to have a moderate risk level.
DPH said Uxbridge, which borders Burrillville, also had a critical risk level, the only critical risk level area bordering Rhode Island.
The DPH said there have been four confirmed human cases of the disease this year in Massachusetts and the virus has been found in 376 mosquito samples this year.
The R.I. Department of Environmental Management said Thursday that a horse in Westerly tested positive EEE over the weekend.
Earlier in the week, the R.I. Department of Health recommended “smart scheduling” to schools and municipalities, advising moving outdoor activities indoors during early morning or dusk hours to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses such as EEE.
RIDOH has also found the virus in mosquitoes in Central Falls this year.
