REHOBOTH - Rehoboth has been added to the list of communities where mosquitoes have been found to be infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

It's the fourth community in the state where the sometimes deadly and always dangerous disease has been detected.

EEE was previously found in Raynham, Seekonk and Easton.

In Easton, two samples tested positive for the disease, which is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites and is fatal in about 33 percent of cases.

Surveillance and spraying of the mosquitoes will be increased in areas where the disease has been found, officials said in a press release from the state's Department of Public Health. While the detection of more mosquitoes with EEE is not good news, the number of infected mosquitoes is much lower than last year when five people were infected and two died.

According to figures released by DPH, last year at this time 50 mosquito samples had tested positive. Only five have tested positive so far this year.

The more mosquitoes infected with the virus the greater the chance it will be passed to a human, said a DPH official.

"The greater the number of infected mosquitoes, the greater the risk to people, so preventing mosquito bites becomes even more important," said Dr. Al DeMaria, Communicable Disease Control Director for DPH.

Meanwhile, West Nile Virus has been found in mosquitoes in six communities and birds in three communities at a rate twice that of last year, raising concerns about the transmission of that disease.

Even though the incidence of mosquitoes with EEE is lower people should still take precautions to avoid mosquito bites especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, health officials said.

Long sleeves and pants should be worn and mosquito repellent should be used.

DPH urges people to use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Pools of standing water should be removed and homes should be made "mosquito proof," officials said.

More information is available on the DPH website: www.mass.gov/dph/wnv/wnv1.htm. Information about EEE and WNV is also available by calling the DPH recorded information line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7698). GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.