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First Death from Rare Disease Caused by a “Mosquito Bite” in the U.S.


A patient in the northeastern United States has died due to Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a rare mosquito-borne disease, local health authorities announced on Tuesday.

The New Hampshire Department of Health said in a statement that the patient was an adult from the city of Hampstead. Local sources confirmed that he was a 41-year-old man named Stephen Perry.
The statement added that the patient was hospitalized due to severe deterioration of the central nervous system and died from the disease.

The department noted that “the last known human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus in New Hampshire was in 2014,” when the Department of Health reported “three human cases, two of which resulted in death.”

This death comes amid growing concerns in the northeastern U.S. about the risk of EEE spreading, which may be exacerbated by climate change. Earlier this month, the neighboring state of Massachusetts reported its first case of EEE this year in an 80-year-old man.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main public health agency in the U.S., symptoms of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.

It can also cause severe neurological problems.

This disease is fatal in nearly 30% of cases, and many survivors suffer from lasting physical or mental effects. People under 15 or over 50 are at the highest risk.

Health authorities advise using mosquito repellent products, wearing protective clothing outdoors, and removing stagnant water near homes to reduce mosquito breeding.

A report from “Climate Central” in 2023 indicated that the number of “mosquito days,” when warm and humid weather conditions are ideal for these insects, has increased in most parts of the U.S. over the past four decades due to climate change caused by human activity.

 

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