Washington (TND) — A new case of Eastern equine encephalitis (also known as “Triple E”) has been reported in Massachusetts, marking the first confirmed case of the mosquito-borne disease in the state since 2020.
Three cases of “triple E” have been reported so far this year — in Massachusetts, as well as in New Jersey and Vermont. The CDC says most infected people are asymptomatic, but some can develop serious neurological problems.
Professor Ned Walker of Michigan State University said “Triple E” is spread primarily by mosquito bites in eastern states.
“It’s mostly along the East Coast, but also in upstate New York and parts of the Midwest,” Walker said.
Walker said what makes “Triple E” different to other mosquito-borne diseases is that the virus is extremely dangerous.
“The mortality rate is between 30 and 50 per cent and those who survive will be left with some residual disability because the virus affects the nervous system,” Walker said.
Human cases were reported in Massachusetts earlier this month, and Walker said experts were studying the state to see where the virus is spreading.
“We’re looking at Massachusetts as the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ so to speak, to see what’s going on,” Walker said.
The state is now spraying those areas, including some high-risk towns, with mosquito-killing insecticides to protect residents from the virus, which can be an effective measure, said Dawn Wesson, a professor of tropical medicine at Tulane University.
“We’re going to aggressively spray that environment, whether that’s a baseball field, a soccer field, whatever,” Wesson said.
But spraying alone isn’t enough: Wesson encourages everyone to use insect repellent, especially young children and the elderly, who are at higher risk.
It’s going to be important to make sure we use a repellent that’s effective for a long time,” Wesson said.