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A new human case of the deadly mosquito-borne disease known as triple E or Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which killed a man recently, has been reported in the Northeastern US state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed on Thursday.
The patient, a 30-year-old woman who tested positive, contracted the infection in the Plymouth County, according to a statement released by the health officials. A second case of the EEE infection in a horse this year has also been reported from the same area, according to the report.

30-year-old woman tests positive 
Reports of the new cases of EEE come just days after conducting an aerial spraying in the Plymouth area. Both, the woman and the horse, were exposed to the virus before spraying was done, DPH stated. Citing Plymouth as a high risk area of EEE, earlier this week, authorities had issued an order to close its public parks and fields from dusk to dawn.
Massachusetts reported detection of its first EEE positive mosquitoes on 3 July and the first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis infection in an 80-year-old man was reported earlier this month. So far, around seventy-six cases of positive mosquito samples of the fatal disease have been reported in Plymouth and nearby areas.
EEE, a rare disease, which is spread through the bites of infected mosquitos, kills about 30 percent of the infected people. In some others, the fatal disease can cause brain inflammation and leave the patient with severe neurological issues. Symptoms normally appear four to 10 days after the bite of the infected mosquito.

Symptoms of EEE
Symptoms include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness.  It can also lead to a coma. So far, there is no vaccines or medicines to treat the infection mainly spread by species like Aedes, Coquillettidia, and Culex. Diagnosis is done by testing blood or spinal fluids. People aged below 15 and above 50 are at higher risk of contracting EEE than others, according to CDC.
Apart from humans, EEE infected mosquitoes can spread the virus to other animals including birds and mammals. In US, about 11 human cases of EEE are reported every year and  most of the cases happen near gulf coast, Atlantic ocean coastline and states bordering great lakes.  Expressing concern, authorities requested people to take necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites and thus the risk of contracting the deadly disease. 
 "We expect that the aerial spraying will help prevent risk for EEE from continuing to escalate in the area, but it does not eliminate it completely. We are asking people to be consistent about taking steps to prevent mosquito bites," Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, said in a statement issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown requested people residing near EEE high risk areas to 'reschedule' their "evening outdoor events" and to " avoid peak mosquito biting hours." 
Earlier this week, a 41- man from New Hampshire, who tested positive  was hospitalized with severe central nervous system disease and  succumbed to the infection.