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A New Hampshire resident who tested positive for the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus has died, state health officials reported.
The Hampstead resident’s infection was the first in the state in a decade, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. The resident, identified as an adult, had been hospitalized with severe central nervous system symptoms, the department said.
About one-third of people who develop encephalitis from the virus die from the infections, and survivors may have lifelong mental and physical disabilities. There is no vaccine or antiviral treatment available. There are typically about 11 human cases of eastern equine encephalitis in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mosquito precautions advised
In Canada, the last reported human case of the disease was in 2016. But local public health officials in Ottawa say a horse recently tested positive. They encourage residents to:
- Use insect repellent.
- Wear light, long pants and long sleeves.
- Make sure that windows and doors are fitted with mosquito nets.
- Remove or empty standing water around your home
There were three cases of the virus in humans in New Hampshire in 2014, and two of those resulted in deaths. The state Department of Health said the virus, which is rare but serious, also has been found in one horse and several groups of mosquitoes in New Hampshire this summer.
The virus has also emerged in neighboring states this summer, with human cases in Massachusetts and Vermont, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health.
The virus can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to serious neurological disorders, as well as inflammation of the brain and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord.
Fearing eastern equine encephalitis, a deadly virus spread by mosquitoes, some Massachusetts communities have taken steps to prevent the spread, including closing parks after sunset and restricting outdoor activities.
Dr. Michael Libman, a professor of infectious diseases at McGill University in Montreal who studies tropical and travel-related diseases, says Canadians don’t need to panic.
“Outbreaks of this particular disease in the United States and New England appear to involve only a handful of cases,” Libman said.
The Public Health Agency of Canada monitors mosquito-borne diseases, but unlike West Nile virus, there have been cases of eastern equine encephalitis in humans do not need to be reported to the agency.
