One person has died in the northeastern United States from Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare mosquito-borne disease, local health officials said Tuesday.
The New Hampshire State Department of Health identified the patient in a statement as an adult from the town of Hampstead, without providing further details on gender or age. The person had been hospitalized with severe central nervous system deterioration and died of the illness, the statement said.
“The last known human infection with eastern equine encephalitis virus in New Hampshire was in 2014,” when the health department reported “three human infections, including two deaths,” it added.
The death comes amid growing concerns in the northeastern United States about the risk of spreading EEE, the prevalence of which is believed to be exacerbated by climate change.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts, which borders New Hampshire, announced the state’s first case of EEE this year, in an 80-year-old.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the primary public health agency in the United States, symptoms of Eastern equine encephalitis virus include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.
It can also cause significant neurological disorders.
Nearly 30% of those infected die, and many of those who survive suffer physical or mental after-effects. Those under 15 and over 50 are considered most at risk.
Health officials advise using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing when outdoors, and eliminating standing water near homes to reduce the ability of mosquitoes to breed.
A 2023 report from the nonprofit Climate Central notes that the number of “mosquito days” — when warm, humid weather conditions are ideal for the insect — has increased across much of the United States over the past four decades, driven by human-induced climate change.
