BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has announced that the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected for the first time this year in the state.

The DPH confirmed the presence of EEE in a mosquito sample on Monday in Belchertown. The virus is a rare but serious and potentially deadly disease that spreads to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Last year, there were four human cases of EEE in Massachusetts with one death, and four cases of EEE in horses.

“This is around the time we would expect to find EEE in mosquitoes in Massachusetts, especially after an active EEE season last year with four recorded human cases,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “This is only a first finding, and mosquito s

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