The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014. (Representative image)
Washington:
A person in the northeastern US state of New Hampshire has died after contracting the very rare mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), health authorities have announced.
The patient, identified only as an adult from the town of Hampstead, was hospitalized with severe central nervous system disease and later succumbed to the disease, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said in a statement.
“The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified three human infections, including two fatalities,” the department said.
The new infections and deaths come amid growing concern from state officials across New England about the rising risk of EEE, a threat believed to be exacerbated by climate change.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts announced the state’s first human case of EEE of the year — a man in his 80s — and officials have asked the public to observe voluntary curfews, close public parks and begin spraying from the air and on the ground to control the mosquito population. .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness.
It can also cause serious neurological disorders, such as inflammation of the brain and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord, known as encephalitis and meningitis.
About 30 percent of those infected die, and many survivors suffer ongoing physical or mental consequences. People younger than 15 and older than 50 are at higher risk.
There are currently no vaccines or treatments available.
Health officials recommend using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing outdoors and eliminating standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
A 2023 report from Climate Central highlighted that the number of “mosquito days” – warm, humid conditions ideal for mosquito activity – has increased in much of the US over the past four decades due to human-induced climate change.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)