Athol health officials have raised concerns in regard to Eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito borne illness. They have decided to raise the threat level of the disease at the time when third case of the same got registered.

The third case was of a young girl, whose age has been kept under wraps. From yesterday, she has been in hospital, and it is also being suspected that she has been suffering from illness from the start of the month.

Department of Public Health John Auerbach was of the view that they are concerned about any case in regard to the same, but their concerns get increased when the illness has been contracted by a youngster.

Threat level has not been raise in Athol alone. Orange and Royalston are two other places where the threat level has been raised to critical level. Meanwhile, threat level in Erving, Petersham, Wendell and Winchendon, has been raised to high.

The authorities concerned have recommended that if people think that they have been suffering the illness then they should remain at home and get themselves checked by GP. They should try and remain at home and cancel all outdoor activities, till the time they witness first snowfall.