This year’s first human case of EEE detected in Plymouth County

A Cattail mosquito is held up for inspection at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough, Maine. Cattail mosquitos can transmit eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus to humans.Pat Wellenbach/Associated Press

The year’s first human case of EEE has been confirmed in a boy who was exposed in Plymouth County, and the EEE risk level for Carver and Middleborough has been raised to critical, state officials said Monday.

Kingston, Plympton, and Rochester are considered at high risk for eastern equine encephalitis, while Bridgewater, Halifax, Lakeville, Plymouth, Raynham, Taunton, and Wareham are now at moderate risk, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement.

Residents in communities considered high-risk or critical are asked to avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

The public health department said a lab test confirmed the boy’s infection. The agency did not provide information about his condition.

“EEE is rare, but it is a serious disease and public health concern, and we remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites as EEE activity increases,” Dr. Monica Bharel, the state’s public health commissioner, said in the statement.

“The single best prevention tool continues to be avoiding mosquito bites by using repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, weather permitting, and avoiding outdoor activity between the hours of dusk and dawn in the highest risk areas,” Bharel said.

Earlier Monday, Plympton officials announced that the threat of EEE had been raised to “high” after several mosquitoes tested positive for the deadly disease, according to an update on the town’s website.

All outdoor activities on town-owned property in Plympton are banned from dusk to dawn until further notice.

The state Department of Health is working with local communities and mosquito control experts to manage the risk of someone catching the disease, officials said. The virus that causes EEE has been found in 29 mosquito samples so far this year, officials said.

Twelve people in Massachusetts were infected with EEE last year and six died, officials said.

Health officials urged precautionary measures, such as using insect repellent while outside, avoiding going outside during peak mosquito hours, and wearing clothing that covers one’s body to protect from mosquito bites.

Matt Berg can be reached at [e-mail]. Follow him on Twitter @mattberg33.