United States: Extremely rare mosquito-borne illness, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), has resulted in the death of a person in the New Hampshire state of the US. The details of the illness have been announced by the local health authorities.
The health authorities have not shared the details regarding the person but have highlighted that the person was an adult and a resident of the town of Hampstead. The person was getting treatment in a hospital where he was admitted after a severe central nervous system. These details were shared by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The department, through an official statement, mentioned, “The last reported human EEE infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified three human infections, including two fatalities.”
It is to be noted that infection and death have been reported during the times when the state and the neighboring region have been reporting an uptick in the cases associated with EEE. Experts have noted that the threat linked to such diseases is believed to be increasing due to climate change.
Massachusetts is another state which has reported a human case of EEE. The infected man is in his 80s. Amid these chaotic times, the health authorities have announced a curfew-type situation.
The common symptoms witnessed by people suffering from the illness include fever, diarrhea, behavioral changes, drowsiness, vomiting, headache, and seizures. Along with this, the experts have also mentioned that the disease results in severe neurological diseases, such as inflammation of the brain membranes and near the spinal cord, which could result in illness link encephalitis and meningitis.
According to the health agencies, around 30 percent of the people die after getting infected with the illness, and most of the survivors deal with physical as well as mental impacts. Higher risks are observed in individuals aged between 15 and 50.
Accordingly, there are currently no vaccines or treatments for the infection. Meanwhile, the officials have asked the general public to use insect repellent and try to eliminate standing water around homes so the mosquito breeding sites are reduced.