Rare mosquito-borne disease causes first death in NH

A New Hampshire resident has died of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) after the hospital tested positive for the rare mosquito-borne disease, health officials said Tuesday.

The New Hampshire State Department of Health announced in a press release that the person who died from EEE was an adult who was hospitalized for a serious central nervous system disorder and then died.

The man was then identified by his family as 41-year-old Steven Perry. The family told WBZ that Perry had no previous medical conditions.

This is the first New Hampshire resident to die from EEE since 2014, and the first infection in the state since that year. In 2014, the DHHS identified three human infections, including two deaths.

“Given the positive mosquito samples identified, we believe there is an increased risk of EEEV (the virus that causes EEE) infection in New England this year,” said New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “The risk will persist into the fall until there is a hard freeze that kills the mosquitoes. Everyone should take steps to avoid mosquito bites when they are outdoors.”

The press release also noted that EEE has been detected in one horse and seven mosquito herds in New Hampshire so far this summer, and pointed to numerous records of EEE in neighboring states Vermont and Massachusetts.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), EEE is incredibly rare but very serious. There are only a handful of human cases of EEE equine encephalomyelitis in the United States each year—an average of 11 cases are reported each year, according to the CDC. Still, the CDC lists the mortality rate for EEE as 30%, and those who survive often suffer severe neurological damage.

Symptoms may include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness. According to the Massachusetts DPH, the most dangerous and most common serious complication of EEE is inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis. There is currently no vaccine for EEE, but the CDC recommends clinical monitoring and pain management by a healthcare professional to help manage symptoms.

Humans and some mammals are so-called dead-end hosts, meaning they do not transmit the virus to mosquitoes that bite them, even if they become sick.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, four Massachusetts cities have raised the risk level for electrical and electronic equipment to “critical” and Six cities have also raised their risk level for electrical and electronic equipment to “high”.

Read more: What you should know about the rare but deadly mosquito-borne virus in US cities

New Hampshire's DHHS provided its citizens with some advice on how to prevent mosquito bites, especially when EEE occurs. This includes using “effective mosquito repellents,” wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito times in the early morning and evening — or avoiding outdoor activities altogether during those hours.

They also recommend draining standing water around the house and installing or repairing insect screens.