Third human case of EEE in Mass

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) - State Health officials have recorded their third case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a human this year in Massachusetts.

The Department of Public Health says the patient, a female under the age of 18, was diagnosed in early September and is currently hospitalized.

Based on the diagnosis, the EEE threat level has been raised in several towns in Franklin County and Worcester County.

The EEE threat level has been raised to "Critical" in Athol, Orange, and Royalston, and to "High" in Erving, Petersham, Phillipston, Templeton, Warwick, Wendell, and Winchendon.     

The DPH is urging communities with "Critical" and "High "threat levels to cancel all planned evening outdoor events for the remainder of the season until the first hard frost.