Five Communities Being Urged to Stop EEE Activities

Five towns in Massachusetts are urged to curtail evening outdoor activities for Eastern equine encephalitis, a source told Boston News.

The Massachusetts Health Department said that it is raising its risk designation to "high" for specific towns like Hanover, Hanson, Rockland, Weymouth and Whitman.

This decision came about after the death of a woman from Norfolk County who was bitten by a mosquito with possible EEE - the first case of the virus in Massachusetts this year.

The Boston News reported that official did not identify the 80-year old woman but family and friends of the deceased told the local news that she was from Weymouth.

Earlier this month, Belchertown in Western Massachusetts was classified at "critical" risk after EEE was found in two horses.

Amherst, a nearby town was also classified at "high" risk by the Massachusetts Health Department.

There were a total of seven cases of EEE in Massachusetts last year and at least two deaths.