What is Eastern equine encephalitis?

 



Health officials in New England stepped up their monitoring after the first case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts in 2020. A resident from Hampstead, New Hampshire died from the virus, showing how serious the disease can be despite being rare.

What is EEE?

Eastern equine encephalitis is a serious viral infection spread by mosquitoes. It’s rare but can be very severe. The CDC reports only a few cases each year, and about 30% of those infected die from the illness.
Symptoms

Symptoms appear 4 to 10 days after a mosquito bite. They are divided into two types:

Febrile Illness: Includes fever, chills, body aches, and joint pain, usually getting better in two weeks.Neurological Disease: This can lead to meningitis or encephalitis, with symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, seizures, and changes in behavior. Death can occur within ten days, and survivors may have long-term health issues.
Transmission and Prevention

The virus can’t spread between people. It mostly occurs in eastern and Gulf Coast states, often near swamps. To avoid getting infected, stay indoors at dusk and dawn, wear protective clothing, and use insect repellent. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for EEE. Care focuses on supporting those affected. Public health efforts aim to reduce mosquito numbers and prevent bites.
About Eastern equine encephalitis

EEE is a rare but serious disease spread by mosquitoes, affecting birds, horses, and humans. It has a high death rate of around 30% among those infected, making it one of the deadliest mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. Symptoms can be similar to other viral infections. There is no specific antiviral treatment; supportive care is used. EEE is most common in the eastern U.S. and Gulf Coast, with increased cases in late summer and early fall.Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a virus that spreads to people through bites from an infected mosquito. It causes brain inflammation (encephalitis). The virus can affect how your brain and nerves function. About 30% of people bitten by an EEE-infected mosquito develop encephalitis and die from the infection.

Research suggests EEE is more common during late spring through early fall. Infections usually peak in summer months, and are most common around bodies of fresh water and swamps and near coasts.EEE got its name because researchers first discovered the virus in horses (equines) in the 1830s.

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