Janice R. Andrews
State health officials in New York said on Friday that a person has been infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) for the first time in almost ten years. The person is currently in the hospital in Ulster County, where the rare and dangerous virus spread by mosquitoes was found. The New York State Department of Health says this is the first proven case in the state since 2015.
Ulster County health officials are looking into the case because EEE has recently been found in a horse and two emus in the area. The health commissioner for New York State, Dr. James McDonald, stressed how dangerous the virus is because there is no protection and it can kill. He also told people to stay alert for diseases spread by mosquitoes, even though it was cooler outside.
Cases of EEE happen very rarely but are very dangerous across the country. The virus has been found in at least 11 people in seven states so far this year. These states are Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and now New York.
The signs of EEE can be mild, like a fever or a headache, or very bad, like seizures and changes in behaviour. The CDC says that about one-third of people who have serious EEE signs will not make it.
To avoid getting sick, health experts say to use bug spray, wear protective clothes, and take steps to limit your exposure to mosquitoes both inside and outside.
