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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The state's Department of Public Health said a fourth EEE death was misreported Wednesday, and that the death toll in Massachusetts from the virus stands at three.
The DPH corrected the record in a release Thursday afternoon.
"Based on an incorrect report filed by a hospital, DPH has been notified that the fourth death was improperly reported and the official death count remains at three people as of today," the release read.
To see which areas are currently under high EEE risk, click here.
They also confirmed a twelfth human case of EEE in a woman in her 70s in Hampden County who is currently hospitalized.
"Although mosquito populations are declining, the weather is keeping them active," State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown wrote in the DPH release. "We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites."
The DPH did confirm a third EEE death earlier this week.
They recommend the following to protect against EEE:
- Avoid Mosquito Bites
- Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours
- Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites
- Mosquito-Proof Your Home
- Protect Your Animals
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