What Is The Rare Mosquito-Borne Virus 'EEE' That Caused Death Of US Man
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has only reported a few cases and most occur in eastern or Gulf Coast states.
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A 41-year-old New Hampshire man named Steven Perry passed away due to a rare mosquito-borne virus called eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), the health authorities declared on Tuesday.
Perry was admitted to hospital with severe central nervous system disease and died within a week, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
According to several reports, Perry is the fifth case of the virus in the US this year. At the beginning of this month, Massachusetts confirmed its first human case of this virus in a man in his 80s.
Before this year, the last human EEEV infection was reported in 2014 among three individuals, inclusive of two fatalities, the department said.
Infected mosquitoes are believed to be present in different regions and neighbouring areas have been alerted for this virus.
This is a peak season for mosquitoes as they are most active during August and September. Reports suggest that officials have initiated aerial and ground spraying to restrict the mosquito population.
The risk will continue until the fall and there is hard frost that kills all these mosquitoes, said New Hampshire’s state epidemiologist, Dr Benjamin Chan.
Here is all you need to know about the EEE virus or triple E.
EEE: What We Know About The Virus
If an Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus-infected mosquito bites an individual, then the person is likely to get infected. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has only reported a few cases and most occur in eastern or Gulf Coast states.
"Approximately 30% of people with eastern equine encephalitis die, and many survivors have ongoing neurological problems," said the CDC.
It said people and horses are considered to be 'dead-end hosts' of this virus as they do not spread the infection even if they contract it.
EEE: Symptoms
Headache, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, behavioural changes, seizures, and drowsiness are common symptoms observed in an infected person.
EEE: Prevention
CDC has issued the following precautionary measures to keep this virus and infection at bay:
Use insect repellent
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
Treat clothing and gear
Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors
So far, there is no medicine or vaccine to prevent this infection.
