MA woman has died from EEE, family says

AMESBURY, Mass. (AP) - A 63-year-old Amesbury woman has died of Eastern equine encephalitis.

The family of Charlene Manseau tells The Daily News of Newburyport that she died Saturday from what they called complications from the mosquito-borne disease.

Manseau, who had been treated for cancer in recent years, was hospitalized Sept. 10 at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston and was diagnosed with EEE during the course of her treatment. Her family says her cancer treatment and medication and the resulting weakened immune system may have been a factor in her death.

Manseau was a mother of four and grandmother of 12.

She is thought to be the second Massachusetts resident to die of the disease this year. State public health officials say a Westborough man in his 70s also died from EEE.

To find out the risk for West Nile Virus and EEE in your community, check out the Mosquito-borne illness risk map.

Get the latest news and information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Insect-Borne Diseases »