Died of the insidious mosquito virus - the risk level is raised

USA
A death from an insidious mosquito virus - measures are tightened

Hans Österman

Updated 00.56 | Published 00.55

Warnings have been put in place in Plymouth. Photo: Steven Senne/AP

The US is tightening measures against the insidious mosquito-borne EEE.

Cases have been registered in several states, and on Tuesday authorities announced that one person has died.

Now parks are closed and residents of several communities are asked not to go out in the evening.

The death from the unusual disease EEE - Eastern equine encephalitis - is the first this year in the United States, writes NBC News.

It was announced by health officials in New Hampshire on Tuesday. The patient was a resident of the town of Hampstead and died in hospital following severe neurological symptoms.

Four more cases of the disease have been confirmed so far this year in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin, according to the CDC, which is the US counterpart to the Public Health Agency.

That's how high the mortality rate is

EEE – which is not found in Sweden – is spread by infected mosquitoes. Most people do not even notice they are infected, but others suffer from typical virus symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and diarrhea, according to NBC. In some cases, the patient develops encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the meninges).

According to the CDC, about 30 percent of those infected die. Most of these die within ten days of the first symptoms, but the course can also be prolonged over several years.

The high mortality means that the authorities in the United States are always on the alert against the virus. In Massachusetts, measures have been tightened in several places in recent weeks.

After a man in his 80s was confirmed infected in the small town of Oxford, a few miles southeast of Boston, the municipality raised the risk level from "elevated" to "critical". Residents are now asked to stay indoors in the evening when mosquitoes are most active. The advisory is in effect until the first frost and also includes three adjacent communities.

In several places in the state, mosquitoes are now being fought with insecticides. In the coastal city of Plymouth, further to the south-west, parks and green areas have been closed during the dark hours of the day after the virus was found in a sick horse.

Car drives around residential areas and releases mosquito repellent to fight the virus as early as 2020 in the United States. Photo: Charles Krupa/AP

"Extremely serious illness"

EEE is not only associated with high mortality. Many infected people have long-term symptoms and never fully recover. According to the CDC, these include reduced intellectual capacity, personality disorders and strokes.

The relatives of the infected man in Oxford went out via local authorities with an appeal to the residents to follow the recommendations.

"They want people to be aware that this is an extremely serious disease with terrible physical and emotional consequences even if you survive," writes Oxford City Manager Jennifer Callahan.

Genre picture. Photo: Alamy Stock Photo

That's how you protect yourself

Despite the serious words, 2024 is not yet a record year for EEE in the US. Last year, seven cases were registered and it is even further to the figure from 2019, when 38 people were confirmed infected.

At the same time, another mosquito-borne disease – West Nile fever – is spreading in the United States. So far this year, 289 cases have been registered in 33 states.

- Everyone should prevent mosquito bites when they are outdoors, says New Hampshire state epidemiologist Benjamin Chan according to NBC.

He specifies the measures as follows:  

Use mosquito spray with DEET or picaridin.  

Wear loose clothing that covers your arms and legs.  

Avoid standing water in, for example, pots, birdbaths and toys.