U.S. Towns Are On High Alert About This Rare, Deadly Mosquito Virus
Health officials in Massachusetts are warning about the risk of contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE) after a person developed the mosquito-borne disease earlier this month.
Officials plan to spray for mosquitos in 10 communities, and at least one town has closed its public parks and fields between dusk and dawn to try to lower the risk that local residents will be bitten.
In case you’re not familiar with it, EEE is a rare and potentially disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, per to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can cause anything from zero symptoms to deadly brain infections in people who are infected.
But how is EEE treated and is there an outbreak happening now? Here’s what you need to know.
Meet the expert: William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Is there an EEE outbreak?
No, there is not an EEE outbreak happening at the moment. However, health officials in Massachusetts are urging residents and visitors to practice mosquito bite prevention after a man in his 80s was infected in the state in mid-August. That was the first case of EEE that the state had seen since 2020, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Since then, there have not been additional cases detected in the state, but the local government is taking action to try to lower the risk that more people will be infected.
EEE isn’t just in Massachusetts, though. Cases have also been detected in Vermont and New Jersey this year, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is the prognosis for EEE?
EEE can be deadly. It has a mortality rate of 30 percent, with people dying from the condition within two to 10 days after developing symptoms, per the CDC.
For those who have severe cases, the consequences could be dire. EEE causes long-term physical or neurological issues in more than half of people who recover from severe cases. Many of those require long-term care and die within a few years after they’re infected, according to the CDC.
However, most people infected with EEE do not develop symptoms, the organization says. Those who do can result in febrile illness (a fever that typically resolves in one to two weeks) or neurologic disease.
What is the treatment for EEE?
If you develop symptoms of EEE and live in an area where it's been detected, it's a good idea to contact your doctor, says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "They can do a blood test," he says.
But EEE treatment is “just supportive care,” Dr. Schaffner says. Meaning, people may take OTC medications to help control the fever and aches and pains. Those who develop a brain infection will be closely monitored in the hospital and given pain medication to help, he says. "We don't have a specific anti-EEE antiviral drug, so it's just taking care of them as they—we hope—get better," Dr. Schaffner says.
How do I avoid getting EEE?
The best way to avoid EEE is to do your best to avoid mosquito bites. According to the CDC, that includes:
Using insect repellent
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants
Treating your clothing and gear
Trying to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors
While EEE isn’t all over the U.S. right now, there are plenty of other mosquito-borne infections that are—and can make you sick. “It’s a good idea for all of us to be aware of them,” Dr. Schaffner says.
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