US State on Alert After Rare Mosquito-borne Virus Claims Life
An adult from Hampstead, New Hampshire, has died from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare but severe mosquito-borne virus. The individual was hospitalized with significant central nervous system disease before succumbing to the illness. This incident marks the first human case of EEE in New Hampshire since 2014, when three cases were reported, two of which were fatal. EEE has a high mortality rate of nearly 30%, and many survivors suffer long-term neurological complications.
State health officials have expressed growing concern about the increasing risk of EEE, attributing it in part to climate change, which is extending mosquito seasons and expanding their habitats. Currently, there are no vaccines or specific treatments available for EEE. Health authorities recommend using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing outdoors, and eliminating stagnant water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites. The CDC also advises limiting outdoor activities from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
