The death toll in the outbreak of mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalitis in the northeast of the United States has risen to eight, with the death of a person in Massachusetts already known to have contracted the disease.
Carried by mosquitoes, the EEE virus is a rare disease that can cause inflammation of the brain, leaving many of those who survive with permanent physical, mental, and neurological problems.
The number of cases in Massachusetts alone already exceeds the number of cases usually reported nationwide annually, which averages around seven.
According to the CDC, most cases are from Atlantic and Gulf Coast states, with some in the Great Lakes region.
But those who recover are often left physically or mentally disabled, according to the CDC, with problems ranging from “brain dysfunction to severe intellectual impairment, personality disorders, seizures, paralysis, and cranial nerve dysfunction.”
Many of the patients with severe complications die within a few years.
The illness is characterized by chills, fever, malaise, and pains and aches in the muscles and joints.
With no vaccine or antiviral treatment available, the CDC emphasizes prevention through stopping mosquito bites.
- Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or clothing. The repellent/insecticide permethrin can be used on clothing to protect through several washes. Always follow the directions on the package.
- Wear long sleeves and pants when weather permits.
- Have secure, intact screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.