Via White Coat Notes at Boston.com: Amesbury woman, 63, is second Massachusetts resident to die from EEE this year. Excerpt:
Charlene Manseau, 63, of Amesbury died of Eastern equine encephalitis Saturday and her family wants other cancer survivors to take extra precautions against the mosquito-borne illness.
Manseau is the second fatal case of EEE in Massachusetts this year. State health officials reported earlier this month that a Westborough man in his 70s had died from the disease.
Becky Manseau Barnett said her mother’s cancer treatments may have weakened her immune system, making her more susceptible to the virus.
“Immunosuprression could have contributed to her having severe symptoms with the EEE,” Manseau Barnett, 33, said in an interview Monday.
State health officials on Monday said there had been a second EEE death, though for confidentiality reasons did not confirm the victim’s identity. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday that an Amesbury woman in her 60s had been hospitalized with the disease.
The agency also announced Monday that a Plymouth County resident, described as a male under age 18, has been diagnosed with EEE -- the seventh human case of EEE reported in Massachusetts this year. Last year, just two cases and one death were reported. The Plymouth County patient was not hospitalized and is recovering, the state said.
