A 41-year-old man from Hampstead, New Hampshire, has died after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a rare but severe mosquito-borne virus, CBS News reports.
The man, identified as Steven Perry, was hospitalized with severe central nervous system disease and passed away within a week.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the last reported human case of EEE in the state occurred in 2014, when three people were infected, two of whom died. This summer, EEE has been detected in one horse and in seven batches of mosquitoes in New Hampshire. State epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan warned that the risk of mosquito-transmitted infections, including EEE, is present statewide.
EEE is classified as a “rare but serious” disease that can lead to brain damage and death. In New Hampshire, mosquitoes are known to transmit EEE as well as West Nile Virus and Jamestown Canyon Virus.
Dr. Chan noted an elevated risk for EEE transmissions this year in New England, citing positive mosquito samples. The risk persists into the fall until a hard frost eliminates the mosquito population.
In nearby Massachusetts, public health officials are also addressing EEE concerns. Earlier this month, the state reported its first human case of EEE since 2020 of a patient in his 80s from Oxford. In 2019, Massachusetts recorded 12 human cases of EEE and six deaths. Due to increased risks, the Oxford Board of Health has instituted an outdoor curfew to limit activities before dusk, while Plymouth has closed parks and fields during peak mosquito hours.
Counties in Massachusetts have begun aerial spraying programs to combat mosquito populations. Pesticides will be dispersed in Plymouth and surrounding areas from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. starting August 27.
On Tuesday, Massachusetts health officials also announced two additional human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV), bringing the total for the year to four. One patient was found in Suffolk County, while the other – in Norfolk County. Towns including Boston, Cambridge, Everett, and others have been designated as high risk for WNV.
Health officials stress that EEE can cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain. The disease may also lead to severe inflammation of the brain and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord. Around one-third of those infected with EEE die from the illness, while many others may experience lifelong physical or mental complications. Currently, there is no vaccine or antiviral treatment available for EEE.
