MARION — There will be no town party in Marion this year, due to the presence of two mosquito-borne diseases detected recently.

In the wake of both West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis being identified in mosquitoes in Marion, the annual Marion Town Party has been canceled, according to an announcement made Tuesday, Aug. 20.

“It’s a very, very disappointing thing to say,” Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said.

A mosquito in Marion with West Nile virus was detected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health earlier in August and a mosquito with EEE in Marion was identified Aug. 18, according to the Marion Board of Health.

The working group for the Marion Town Party recommended the cancellation of the annual festivities at Silvershell Beach, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24, after the two diseases were found, according to Gorman.

The Marion Board of Health had also recommended postponing any events taking place after dusk, according to Gorman.

“It is a disappointment, I’m sure, to everybody,” Marion Select Board Chair Norm Hills said.

Gorman said there was a discussion regarding starting the party earlier than the planned 4 p.m., but due to the time required by volunteers to set up the event, it would have been “an impossible task.”

“We will continue to work with the Select Board and the working group to see if there’s anything we can do,” he said.

Those who had donated towards the town party can request their donations to be returned or have them carry over to the next iteration of the party, according to Gorman.

Those donated funds are solely utilized for the town party, according to Marion executive assistant Donna Hemphill.

“It’s a shame because I know Donna has put a lot of time and effort into this whole process,” Hills said.

West Nile virus, one of the two mosquito-borne diseases recently identified in Marion, can cause mild fever to severe illness, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

About 80% of those infected don’t have symptoms, while those that do develop symptoms may experience headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or even swollen lymph glands, in addition to fever, according to the Department of Public Health.

From 2014 to 2013, there were 131 infections of West Nile virus reported in Massachusetts with eight deaths, the Department of Public Health said.

EEE is a rare but serious and sometimes fatal mosquito-borne disease, with symptoms including high fever, stiff neck, headache and lack of energy, according to the Department of Public Health.

Encephalitis, or swelling and inflammation of the brain, is the most frequent serious complication. About half of those infected with the disease in Massachusetts have died, the Department of Public Health said.

West Nile virus has also been detected in mosquitoes found in Mattapoisett and Rochester, according to the Department of Public Health.