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9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Mosquito Bite

John Fontaine Got Eastern Equine Encephalitis

POSTED: Friday, September 1, 2006
UPDATED: 7:12 am CDT September 1, 2006

John Fontaine
BOSTON -- A 9-year-old Middleboro, Mass., boy died from Eastern equine encephalitis Thursday. He is the state's first EEE fatality this year.

John Fontaine developed a fever on Aug. 18 and was hospitalized two days later. His two-week battle with EEE ended at Boston Children's Hospital Thursday morning.

Middleborough was among the communities in southeastern Massachusetts that have undergone two rounds of aerial spraying to kill the mosquitoes that carry the virus. The first round of spraying Aug. 8 reduced the mosquito population by at least 60 percent, officials said.

Officials said they believe Fontaine was infected after the spraying.

Fontaine played on the Mitchell Memorial Club Youth Football's fourth-grade team. The team will dedicate the season to him.

Teammates and loved ones packed a memorial service at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro on Thursday night to remember the fourth-grader. The service was originally scheduled as a prayer service, but after his death, it was changed to a memorial service.

Coaches informed teammates' parents of Fontaine's worsening condition Wednesday night.

"When we found out yesterday, I don't think there was dry eye. We don't know him personally, but it still hits home. It's devastating," said parent Joyce Slater.

"It's very sad. I feel very bad for the team. It's scary," said parent Julie Harris.

"It's tough. Especially a 9-year-old -- I don’t know how the parents will deal with that. It is tough, you know?" said coach Bob Bennett.

"It is heartbreaking. It is absolutely heartbreaking. I'm sure all the kids will be there tonight for the (memorial) service and we'll take it from there," said coach Brian Fruzzetti.

There were two other confirmed EEE cases 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.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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