BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) -- For the first time in 20 years, someone in South Carolina has died by an infected mosquito carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and it happened in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort County Mosquito Control (BCMC) said they can’t confirm where in the county the person contracted the EEE virus. They have laid more traps and are actively testing mosquitoes from the area, including spraying to exterminate the large insect populations, setting and monitoring traps around the county and running tests in the lab. BCMC does those things regularly but now they've stepped up their efforts.

“It's always terrible when you hear of a death, especially one from a rare mosquito borne disease,” said Robert Cartner, the Director for BCMC.

It’s rare, but out of 53 species pres

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