How to get rid of mosquitoes
Find out about some mosquito repellents in time for summer.
In New Hampshire, a person has died as a result of an infection with the Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus.
EEE is a rare disease transmitted by mosquitoes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of only 11 cases are reported in humans each year. Several people, horses and mosquitoes in the Northeast tested positive for the disease this summer.
A resident of Hampstead, New Hampshire, was hospitalized for severe central nervous system disease and died as a result of the illness, according to a news release from the New Hampshire Department of Health on Tuesday. The agency declined to release the person's identity or time of death.
“We believe there is an increased risk of (EEE) infection in New England this year because positive mosquito samples have been identified,” New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in the release. “The risk will continue into the fall until a hard freeze occurs that kills the (mosquitoes). Everyone should take steps to avoid mosquito bites when they are outdoors.”
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Although EEE is rare, about 30% of cases are fatal, according to the CDC, and many survivors have lasting neurological problems. The virus is most prevalent in the Eastern and Gulf Coast states. Researchers also warn that climate change is increasing the number of mosquitoes, as they thrive in warm, humid weather.
The CDC has identified four human EEE cases in Wisconsin, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont in 2024. The agency did not respond to USA TODAY's request for updated tracking in light of the New Hampshire case.
EEE has also been found in horses and mosquitoes in several other states, including Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Connecticut. In some counties, authorities urged citizens to take precautions, and one Massachusetts town even closed public parks and fields from dusk to dawn.
The most recent outbreak in Massachusetts began in 2019 and claimed six lives.
How to protect yourself from electrical and electronic devices
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness, according to the CDC.
Most people infected with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis do not develop symptoms, according to the CDC. People of all ages are susceptible to the infection, but people over 50 and under 15 are most at risk.
There is no treatment or vaccine for EEE, but people in high-risk areas can protect themselves by avoiding mosquito bites, which are most likely to occur between dusk and dawn. Take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect yourself from possible contraction of the mosquito-borne disease:
- Use insect repellent.
- Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- Use air conditioning and fly screens to prevent mosquito bites indoors.
- Empty containers of water near your home to eliminate breeding grounds.
Contributors: Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Henry Schwan, Telegram and Gazette
