Patient dies in US from rare mosquito-borne disease
One person has died in the northeastern United States from Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare mosquito-borne disease, local health officials said Tuesday.
Published on 08/28/2024 at 09:13
The New Hampshire State Department of Health identified the patient in a statement as an adult from the town of Hampstead, without providing further details on gender or age. The person had been hospitalized due to severe central nervous system deterioration and died from the illness, the statement said.
“The last known human infection with eastern equine encephalitis virus in New Hampshire was in 2014,” when the health department reported “three human infections, including two deaths,” he added.
The death comes amid growing concerns in the northeastern United States about the risk of spreading EEE, the prevalence of which is believed to be exacerbated by climate change.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts, which borders New Hampshire, announced the state’s first case of EEE this year, in an 80-year-old.
According to the CDC, the primary public health agency in the United States, symptoms of Eastern equine encephalitis virus include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.
It can also cause significant neurological disorders.
Nearly 30% of those infected die, and many of those who survive suffer physical or mental after-effects. Those under 15 and over 50 are considered most at risk.
Health officials advise using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing when outdoors, and eliminating standing water near homes to reduce the ability of mosquitoes to breed.
