A 60-year-old man from southern Plymouth County, Massachusetts has been tested positive for the first case of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

This is the first human case of EEE since 2013 in Massachusetts and the risk level has been raised to critical in nine communities.

“Today’s news is evidence of the significant risk from EEE and we are asking residents to take this risk very seriously,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “We will continue to monitor this situation and the impacted communities.”

The nine communities at critical risk are Carver, Marion, Middleborough, Rochester, and Wareham in Plymouth County and Acushnet, Freetown and New Bedford in Bristol County.

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State heath agency indicates increase risk of EEE