Fourth Person Dies Of EEE In Massachusetts This Season

A Tauton man became the fourth Massachusetts resident to succumb to Eastern equine encephalitis — the mosquito-borne illness that has communities across the state on high alert. Scott Mosman, 58, died Friday, more than a month after contracting the virus, his family confirmed to media outlets. He had been in hospice care and was treated at Rhode Island Hospital.

The state health department has yet to confirm Mosman's death.

A man in his 70s from Hampden County, a man in his 70s from Freetown and a woman in her 50s from Fairhaven died from EEE recent weeks, according to health officials.

More than 80 communities are either on high or critical alert for EEE.

EEE is rare, but can impact anyone. Massachusetts is in the midst of its third outbreak in the last 15 years — the last two were between 2004-06 and 2010-12 and saw a combined 22 human cases.

Some communities have canceled nighttime events and are even making changes to trick-or-treating plans. The threat of EEE will exist until the first hard frost.

For eastern Massachusetts, mosquitoes will remain active for at least the next week, as mild weather is expected.