A New Hampshire resident has died of Japanese Equine Encephalitis (EEE) after testing optimistic for the uncommon mosquito-borne illness on the hospital, well being officers mentioned Tuesday.
The New Hampshire Division of Well being and Human Companies revealed that the one that died of EEE was an grownup, and was hospitalized resulting from extreme central nervous system illness earlier than they handed away from their sickness, in keeping with a press launch.
The person was then recognized by his household as 41-year-old Steven Perry. The household advised WBZ that Perry didn’t have any underlying circumstances.
That is the primary New Hampshire resident to die of EEE since 2014, and the primary an infection within the state since that yr. In 2014, DHHS recognized three human infections, together with two fatalities.
“We consider there may be an elevated danger for EEEV (the virus that causes EEE) infections this yr in New England given the optimistic mosquito samples recognized,” mentioned New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “The chance will proceed into the autumn till there’s a laborious frost that kills the mosquitos. All people ought to take steps to stop mosquito bites when they’re outdoor.”
The press launch additionally shared that EEE has been detected in a single horse and 7 mosquito batches in New Hampshire to date this summer season, and it pointed to the a number of recordings of EEE in its neighboring states of Vermont and Massachusetts.
Per the Heart for Illness Management (CDC), EEE is extremely uncommon, however it is vitally severe. There are sometimes solely a handful of human circumstances of EEEeastern equine encephalitis within the U.S. annually —the common being 11 circumstances reported yearly, in keeping with the CDC. Nonetheless, the CDC cites the mortality fee for EEE as 30%, and people who survive typically expertise extreme neurological hurt.
Signs can embody fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral modifications, and drowsiness. In line with the Massachusetts DPH, irritation and swelling of the mind, referred to as encephalitis, is essentially the most harmful and frequent severe complication of EEE. There may be at present no vaccine for EEE, however the CDC recommends scientific monitoring and ache administration by medical well being professionals with a purpose to relieve signs.
People and a few mammals are what’s often known as “dead-end hosts,” that means they don’t unfold the virus, though they get sick, to mosquitoes that chew them.
In line with the Massachusetts Division of Public Well being, 4 cities in Massachusetts have raised the EEE danger stage to “essential” and six cities have additionally raised their EEE danger ranges to “excessive.”
Learn extra: What to Know Concerning the Uncommon However Lethal Mosquito-Borne Virus Regarding U.S. Cities
The New Hampshire DHHS offered some recommendation to constituents to stop mosquito bites, particularly as EEE crops up. This consists of utilizing “efficient mosquito repellents,” carrying lengthy sleeves and pants when outdoors. particularly throughout peak mosquito hours within the early morning and night— or, avoiding out of doors actions throughout these hours altogether.
Additionally they really helpful draining standing water across the house and putting or repairing bug screens.
