9-year old dies after mosquito bite

A 9-year-old Middleboro, Mass., boy died from Eastern equine encephalitis Thursday, IBS reported.

On August 18, John Fontaine developed a fever. He was hospitalized two days later. He died two weeks later, on August 31.

A spraying program that began on August 8 reduced the mosquito population by at least 60 percent, officials said. Officials said they believe Fontaine was infected after the spraying.

Only two other confirmed EEE cases have been seen in Massachusetts this year, a 52-year-old woman from Lakeville, Mass., and a 23-year-old man from Acushnet, Mass.

Symptoms of EEE infection in humans include high fever, mental confusion, headache, stiff neck and lack of energy. The symptoms usually appear five to seven days after infection.

Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous complication. Encephalitis can worsen quickly and patients may go into a coma within a week. According to state health officials, about three of every 10 human cases is fatal.

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