A Westborough resident has died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Director of Public Health Paul McNulty said this morning.
Westborough health officials received the news shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, he said.
McNulty said the victim resided in the southeast part of Westborough, near the Hopkinton border. McNulty said he did not want to identify the victim, whom he said died in August. The Telegram & Gazette reports that the victim was in his 70s.
Westborough's EEE risk has been at high since the Massachusetts Department of Public Health elevated it to that level on Aug. 16. The next day, Westborough officials closed all recreation fields, all school fields and all town parks at sunset until further notice.
A sign at the Westborough rotary has reminded community members of the threat level. McNulty also has done a video discussing the situation.
Whether the latest news changes Westborough's status is in the state's hands, McNulty said.
"There's nothing really that we can do," he said.
"We closed all the fields at sunset. Central Mass. (Mosquito Control Project) is doing spraying.
"It's up to individual people to do what we've been telling them to do for the past two months."
Jayme R.
11:23 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Do we know anything else about the victim besides the fact that s/he was 70+ years old? Is it confirmed that s/he most likely contracted EEE in or around Westborough? Did s/he have any other medical conditions that sped up the threat of the disease?
My family lives in Westborough and I constantly visit. Thank you.
Jayme R.
Michael Gelbwasser
11:29 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Hi Jayme,
I left a message at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health a short time ago, toward answering such questions.
I'm hoping to hear more soon.
Best,
MG
Jayme R.
1:39 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Sounds good. Thanks for following up... and for the article. Always good to know these things.