EEE found in Barnstable mosquitoes. It's the second case in Mass. this summer.

Barnstable residents are being advised to beware of outdoor activities at times of day when mosquitoes are active after eastern equine encephalitis was detected in the town.

On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health issued an advisory about a mosquito sample collected on July 23 that tested positive for the virus.

"The sample was collected from an area located in the north-west quadrant of the town of Barnstable," according to a release distributed by Barnstable Health Division Director Thomas McKean late Thursday afternoon.

The mosquito sample included Culex pipiens/restuans complex mosquitoes , which are closely related mosquito species that are known to be "bridge vectors" because they feed on both birds and animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , "eastern equine encephalitis circulates in the environment between mosquitoes and birds typically found in freshwater hardwood swamps," and is then spread to people and some animals, like horses.

Barnstable detection is second in state this summer

EEE virus, characterized as a "rare but serious illness," has caused 43 human infections in Massachusetts with at least 22 deaths between 2000 and 2023, according to the information shared by McKean.

EEE was first confirmed in Massachusetts this summer in mosquito samples collected in Carver on June 30, but the state DPH reports there have been no human or animal cases detected so far this year. The agency in July listed Carver, along with Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton and Wareham as communities with moderate risk level for EEE.

In a July 3 advisory posted on the DPH website about the Carver finding, state epidemiologist Catherine Brown noted that "EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles."

"We rely on our mosquito surveillance program to monitor for the presence of virus to let people know when and where the risk is occurring," she said.

West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne virus, was found June 25 in Quincy.

What are the symptoms of EEE?

The CDC notes on its website that most people infected with EEE do not develop symptoms. But those who do typically begin experiencing symptoms between four and 10 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito.

EEE infection may result in febrile illness with fever, chills, body aches and joint pain that lasts one to two weeks and "most people recover completely when there is no central nervous system involvement."

The virus may also cause neurologic disease in some, including meningitis, which is inflammation of membranes around the brain and spinal cord; and encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms my include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, drowsiness and coma.

"In infants, neurologic disease often occurs soon after onset; in older children and adults, encephalitis might occur after several days of systemic illness," according to the CDC.

People under age 15 and over age 50 are at greatest risk for serious illness.

How to protect yourself

According to Thursday's advisory from the town health division, steps residents can take to protect themselves include:

Avoid Mosquito Bites: Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET(N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label.

DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Be aware of peak mosquito hours : The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home : Start by draining standing water, as many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or repair screens. Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the state DPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito .

Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com , or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: EEE found in Barnstable mosquitoes. It's the second case in Mass. this summer.