Stoneham Man Diagnosed With West Nile Virus; Town Bans Night Activities

A 63-year-old Stoneham man has West Nile Virus, according to the Stoneham Board of Health.

A Stoneham man was recently diagnosed as having West Nile Virus, according to a press statement by the Stoneham Board of Health. The 63-year-old man was discovered to have West Nile Virus on Sept. 20, according to the statement. The human case of West Nile Virus is the first discovered in Stoneham. "The (Massachusetts Department of Public Health) risk assessment level has been raised from 'Moderate' to 'High' in the towns of Stoneham and Winchester in efforts to raise awareness regarding this arbovirus in the closing weeks of the warm season." With the recent confirmation of West Nile Virus, the Stoneham Board of Health has placed a ban on all town and school-related outdoor activities after 6 p.m. for the remainder of the season, …

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PhotoMaineAC

7:56 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Tom, the vaccines have the virus in it!!!!!!! now it's explained...   more ›

Report: Second Massachusetts Resident Dies from EEE

Two people have died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis this year, according to the AP.

The second person this year has died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports. The victim has been identified as Charlene Manseau, 63, of Amesbury, according to the Newburyport Daily News. Manseau's family told the paper she may have had a weakened immune system due to recent cancer treatment (Read the full report). Manseau died Saturday. In all, seven human cases of EEE have been recorded this year in the state, along with 19 human cases of West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus was found in a mosquito pool in Melrose in July; it is the second consecutive year the virus was found in insects in the city. The state's Department of Public Health raised the West Nile Virus threat level to "high" in early…

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Year's Second West Nile Virus Human Case Found in Middlesex County

West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been found in 67 communities from nine counties so far during 2012. However, Stoneham isn't on the list.

An unidentified Cambridge man in his 70s is the second person in Middlesex County to be infected by the West Nile Virus this year, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. The man remained hospitalized as of last week, according to a DHHS press statement. "The announcement is a compelling indicator that the threat of mosquito-borne illness is widespread, and people should continue taking simple, common-sense steps to protect themselves and their families against mosquito bites," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach in the statement. "Use insect repellant, cover exposed skin, and avoid outdoor activities at dusk and after nightfall when mosquitoes are their most active." West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been …

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Stoneham Won't Spray to Ward Off West Nile Virus, EEE

Scope out the Five Things column for Aug. 23.

1. In case you missed it: The Stoneham Board of Health is taking steps to try and reduce the risk of West Nile Virus or eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) from cropping up in town, especially after the viruses were discovered in nearby communities. However, they won't be spraying to ward off the viruses.  2. Grab some shades: It's expected to be mostly sunny, with temperatures in the high 80s and winds in the 3 to 6 miles per hour range Thursday, according to the forecast for Stoneham on the National Weather Service website. In the evening, it will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to a low of about 64, according to the forecast. 3. Barn sale: The Stoneham Senior Center is slated to host their Barn Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. …

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Stoneham Taking Steps to Prevent EEE, West Nile Virus From Cropping Up in Town

While the town may not be spraying, Stoneham is taking other measures to reduce the possibility of EED or West Nile Virus being found in the community.

With West Nile Virus and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) being found in nearby communities, Stoneham is stepping up efforts to reduce the risk of either virus from cropping up in town. In an email to Stoneham Patch Tuesday afternoon, Stoneham Health Agent John Fralick III discussed the Board of Health's plan to limit the town's exposure to the mosquito-borne viruses. "With the recent positive (EEE) sampling in Reading, the Stoneham Board of Health is being proactive in taking action to ensure the risk of a positive sampling in Stoneham remains low," Fralick said. "The Massachusetts Department of Public Health tests pre-designated sites in the area on a weekly basis, and as of now only one positive sample has been found in the area (…

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First Human Case of EEE Confirmed in Massachusetts

The man, who has been treated and released from at hospital, is said to be in his 60s and live in MetroWest. It is not known which specific community.

The Massachusetts Department of Health says its has confirmed the state’s first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The man, who has been treated and released from at hospital, is said to be in his 60s and live in MetroWest. It is not know which community he resides in, but he is from Middlesex County. The state said the area where he lives did not have any EEE detected in mosquitoes this year. The man became ill on July 28, according to the state. The state did note that he recently traveled out of state to the Mid-Atlantic region, where he reported receiving several mosquito bites. State health officials said where the man contracted EEE is unclear. The man lives in an area of Massachusetts that is considered low risk for …

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Middlesex County Man Infected by West Nile Virus

It's the first human case of WNV in Massachusetts this year.

An unidentified man from Middlesex County is this year's first person to be infected by the West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. The man is in his 60s and lives in a community north of Boston, according to a press statement from the Department of Health and Human Services Aug. 15. The man was diagnosed with West Nile Virus in late July, the statement said; he remains hospitalized but is recovering. Testing conducted on July 24 found the virus in mosquito pools in Medford, Malden and Melrose, according to state data. It is the second consecutive year the virus was found in Medford and Melrose. The virus was found in mosquitoes near the Stoneham-Melrose border last year, while …

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Mosquito Pool Near Stoneham Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

A mosquito pool in Melrose on the Melrose/Stoneham line recently tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to a Melrose Health Department press statement.

A mosquito pool in Melrose has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), the Melrose Health Department announced in a press statement on Tuesday morning. The trap that yielded the positive West Nile test is located on the Melrose/Stoneham line, the release stated. The State Laboratory Institute performs testing for WNV and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in mosquitoes each summer, according to the state Department of Public Health, and testing for virus infection in animal and human specimens year-round. The Melrose pool is one of 175 pools statewide that have tested positive this summer for WNV and 48 for EEE. There have been no cases of either disease thus far this year in humans or animals. Melrose health officials said in the …

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