A person has died from Eastern equine encephalitis in New Hampshire, the state’s first case in 10 years, health officials announced Tuesday. The person who died was a resident of Hampstead, New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The person was hospitalized with severe central nervous system disease, according to state health officials. The last case in New Hampshire was in 2014, when health officials reported three cases, including two deaths. In addition to the person with EEE, the virus has been detected in one horse and seven mosquitoes in New Hampshire so far this summer, according to officials. In Massachusetts, 13 high-risk communities will be targeted for pesticide spraying between dawn and dusk this week, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources. Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but deadly disease that can cause long-term physical and mental complications in survivors. There is no vaccine or treatment for EEE. “EEE can cause severe illness and death in any age group, but it is especially dangerous for people under 15 and over 50,” a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said. “EEE does not occur every year, but based on current evidence, there is a high risk of human cases occurring in 2024.” Earlier this month, a man in Oxford was diagnosed with EEE. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), EEE is rare but very serious, with about 30% of infected people dying. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. Those who survive often suffer permanent disabilities, and few recover fully, according to Massachusetts officials. The disease is common in birds, and although humans and some other mammals can also be infected with EEE, they do not spread the disease. According to the CDC, several cases of EEE are reported each year in the United States, with most infections identified in the eastern and Gulf Coast states. State officials said they plan to use an insecticide called Anvil 10+10, an EPA-registered product, for spraying. “No special precautions are required, but residents of affected areas who wish to avoid or minimize exposure can stay indoors during spraying,” the release states. “People with chemical sensitivities or respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, are encouraged to stay indoors during spraying to reduce the chance of worsening their symptoms. It is considered safe to eat vegetables and fruits grown in sprayed areas and to drink water collected from surface water bodies near spraying sites.” Public health officials also warned last week that eight communities are at high risk for West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease. Video: EEE, How to protect your family from West Nile virus Mosquito control tips from MassDPH: Apply insect repellent when outdoors to avoid mosquito bites. Use repellents containing EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or lemon eucalyptus oil (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to product label directions. Do not use DEET products on infants under 2 months of age, and use no more than 30% on older children. Do not use lemon eucalyptus oil on children under 3 years of age. Be aware of the times of day when mosquitoes are most prevalent. The hours between dusk and dawn are when many mosquitoes bite most frequently. In high-risk areas, consider rescheduling outdoor activities to the evening or early morning. Clothing makes mosquitoes less likely to bite. Wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks outdoors helps keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Drain standing water that makes your home mosquito-proof. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Reduce the number of mosquito breeding sites around your home by draining or discarding objects that hold water. Check gutters and drains. Empty unused flower pots and watering pools, and change the water in bird baths frequently. Install or repair screens. Install tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Shelter animals Animal owners should reduce mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water in buckets, tires, watering pools, and other containers, especially after heavy rains. Water tanks provide a perfect habitat for mosquito breeding, so they should be flushed at least once a week during the summer to reduce mosquito populations near pastures. Horse owners should keep their horses indoors in stalls at night to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Also, consult with your veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals, as well as vaccines to prevent West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis. If an animal is suspected to have West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis, owners should report it to the Department of Agricultural Resources’ Animal Health Section at 617-626-1795 or to Public Health at 617-983-6800.
Hampstead, New Hampshire —
A person has died from eastern equine encephalitis in New Hampshire, marking the first human death from the virus in the state in a decade, health officials announced Tuesday.
The person who died was a resident of Hampstead, New Hampshire, and had been hospitalized with severe central nervous system illness, New Hampshire health officials said, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
The last time EEE was reported in New Hampshire was in 2014, when health officials reported three cases and two deaths. In addition to people with EEE, officials say the virus has been detected in one horse and seven mosquito populations in New Hampshire so far this summer.
Thirteen high-risk areas in Massachusetts will be subject to dusk-to-dawn pesticide spraying this week, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease that can cause long-term physical and mental complications in survivors. There is no vaccine or treatment for EEE.
“EEE can cause severe illness and death in any age group, but it is especially at risk in people under 15 and those over 50,” the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement. “Although EEE does not occur every year, based on current evidence, there is a high risk of human infection in 2024.”
Earlier this month, a man from Oxford was diagnosed with EEE.
Although rare, EEE is very serious and causes death in about 30 percent of those who become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.
Massachusetts officials say that those who survive are often left with permanent disabilities, and few ever fully recover. The disease is more prevalent in birds, and humans and other mammals can also become infected with EEE, but they do not spread it.
According to the CDC, only a few cases of EEE are reported each year in the United States, with most infections occurring in the eastern and Gulf Coast states.
State officials said the spraying will use an insecticide called Anvil 10+10, an EPA-registered product.
“No special precautions are required, but people living in contaminated areas who wish to avoid or minimize exposure can remain indoors during spraying,” the release said. “People with chemical sensitivities or respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, are advised to remain indoors during spraying to reduce the possibility of exacerbating their symptoms. Consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in treated areas and drinking water taken from surface waters near spraying operations are considered safe.”
Public health officials also warned last week that eight areas are at high risk of transmission of West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease.
Video: EEE, How to Protect Your Family from West Nile Virus
Mosquito safety tips from MassDPH:
Preventing mosquito bites
Use insect repellent when outdoors. Use repellents containing EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or lemon eucalyptus oil (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to product label directions. Do not use DEET products on infants under 2 months of age and use at a concentration of 30% or less on older children. Do not use lemon eucalyptus oil on children under 3 years of age.
Be aware of the times when mosquitoes are most prevalent: dusk to dawn is when most mosquitoes bite. If you are in a high-risk area, consider rescheduling outdoor activities to the evening or early morning.
Clothing can help reduce your risk of mosquito bites: Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when you’re outdoors helps keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Protect your home from mosquitoes
Drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by draining or discarding any standing water. Check gutters and drains. Empty unused flower pots and watering pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or repair screens: Install tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Protecting animals
Animal owners should reduce mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water in buckets, tires, wading pools and other containers, especially after heavy rains. Fish tanks are perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes, so they should be flushed at least once a week during the summer to reduce mosquito populations near pastures. Horse owners should keep their horses indoors in stalls at night to reduce the risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Also, talk to your veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccines to prevent West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
If an animal is suspected to be infected with WNV or EEE, owners should report it to the Department of Agricultural Resources Animal Health Division by calling 617-626-1795 and to Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
