Eighth confirmed human case of EEE diagnosed in Bristol County

The eighth confirmed human case of EEE in Massachusetts has been diagnosed in a man from northeastern Bristol County, according to a release from the Mass. Department of Public Health.

The victim is a man in his 50s. In addition to the human cases, there have been eight confirmed cases of EEE in animals in the state this year. A Middlesex County man was also diagnosed with West Nile Virus earlier this week.

There are now 35 communities at critical-risk level for EEE, with 38 others at high risk and 120 at moderate-risk level. The virus has been diagnosed in 414 mosquito samples this year, many of which are capable of spreading it to humans.

Related: Towns piling up anti-mosquito precautions amid panic over EEE cases

In addition to the 414, 72 mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Cox Media Group