After several scares and worries about eastern equine encephalitis and a few bouts of spraying earlier this year, officials had not seen a new case of the virus until today.

A mosquito in Bridgewater tested positive for the virus, commonly referred to as EEE, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Recently, fears of EEE caused the owner of Plumb Corner in Rochester to stop hosting the Rochester Country Fair, which is being moved to a new location for next year. The Open Space Beach Bash in Marion was also cancelled last year due to EEE concerns.

Earlier this month, no cases had been reported and the question of whether or not to spray was a definite 'no'.

Spraying, according to Marion Board of Health Director Karen Walega, is only used as a last resort.

With this new confirmation, it is unclear as of yet how the Department of Public Health will respond.

To protect yourself from mosquitos, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends:

• Use bug sprays that contain DEET, permethrin, IR3535 or picaridin (KBR 3023) to provides protection against mosquitoes. In addition, oil of lemon eucalyptus has been found to provide as much protection as low concentrations of DEET.

• Take special care to cover up the arms and legs of children playing outdoors. When you take a baby outdoors, cover the baby's carriage or playpen with mosquito netting.

• Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that take place during evening or early morning hours. That's prime time for mosquito bites.

• Fix any holes in your screens and make sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.

• Remove sources of standing water around your home. Mosquitoes will begin to breed in any puddle or standing water that lasts for more than four days. Check gutters, ceramic pots, trash cans, recycling containers, old tires, wading pools, bird baths, etc.