Eastern equine encephalitis claims life of New York resident: Is there a cure or vaccine for E.E.E.?
The first case of the rare but serious mosquito-borne illness Triple E in nearly a decade, which resulted in a death, has been reported in New York.
Health authorities are on high alert in several states. They are on the lookout for eastern equine encephalitis, a rare but serious mosquito-borne illness. On Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared the disease, also known as E.E.E or Triple E, an Imminent Threat to Public Health after the first human case in nearly a decade resulted in a death.
That is the second fatality this year, another person New Hampshire died from the mosquito-borne virus in August. So far this year, there had been 10 reported human cases in six states as of September 17, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While there are only a few cases reported each year, roughly 30% of those who contract the illness die. Many survivors that develop a neurologic disease can suffer long-term health issues, like mental or physical impairments. There is no known cure and no vaccine.
What are the symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis?
Fortunately, most people that get bitten by an infected mosquito don’t contract the virus, and of those that do, few become ill. Symptoms generally begin four to ten days after a bite according to the CDC.
Infection can result in a febrile illness or a neurologic disease. The former “is characterized by fever, chills, body aches, and joint pain” which can last for up to two weeks and most people recover completely.
Those who develop neurologic disease, meningitis or encephalitis, may experience “fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, drowsiness, and coma” and around a third die, usually two to ten days after symptom appear. Those that recover often suffer long-term health issues.
There is no specific treatment and no vaccine against the eastern equine encephalitis virus. The virus does not spread from human to human. The majority of cases occur in eastern and Gulf Coast states, but cases have also been reported in the past in the Great Lakes region. It is most common in and around freshwater hardwood swamps.
Health officials recommend preventing mosquito bites to reduce your risk of getting infected. This includes staying indoors between dusk and dawn and when outdoors wearing long pants, long-sleeve shirts and socks as well as using repellent.