hey everyone today I've got an important update on a serious health concern emerging from Massachusetts there's been a confirmed case of Eastern equine incilius or ee in an elderly man marking the state's first human case since 2020 this mosquito born virus is rare but extremely dangerous with a high fatality rate and potential for long-term Health consequences let's dive into the details the infected man is currently hospitalized and local authorities are responding Swift to prevent further spread several towns including Plymouth where a horse was also infected are taking precautions they're urging residents to limit outdoor activities From Dusk to Dawn the peak hours for mosquito activity ee is no joke it kills about 30% of those infected according to the CDC and for those who survive the road to recovery is tough often involving lasting disabilities this situation serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of mosquito born illnesses Massachusetts has a history with EE back in 2019 the state saw a significant outbreak with six fatalities and 12 confirmed cases the following year had five more cases and another death these numbers highlight how quickly this virus can spread and the severe impact it can have so what can you do to protect yourself first make sure to use mosquito repellent whenever you're Outdoors second eliminate any standing water around your home that's where mosquitoes breed and lastly minimize your outdoor exposure during Peak mosquito activity times now let's talk a bit about the virus itself e is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito which gets the virus by feeding on Infected Birds symptoms usually appear 4 to 10 days after a bite and can include headache chills vomiting and high fever unfortunately there are no specific vaccines or treatments for ee making prevention crucial the recent case in Massachusetts is a clear call to action for all of us pay attention to Public Health advisories use repellent and take steps to reduce mosquito breeding sites in your community these measures are essential to protect yourself and your loved ones from this deadly virus stay safe out there and keep informed for more updates on this situation and other important news make sure to subscribe and hit that notification Bell thanks for watching