An adult in New Hampshire died after being infected with eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, in the state's first human case of the virus in 10 years, health officials said Tuesday.
Family members identified the victim as 41-year-old Steven Perry of Hampstead, New Hampshire. Speaking to NBC10 Boston off camera, Perry's family says that even though this disease is rare, it progressed rapidly. Perry was healthy and had no underlying health conditions, they say, but that all changed on Aug. 12 when he went to the hospital with severe central nervous system disease, dying a week later on Aug. 19.
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The last human EEE infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. That year saw three people infected by the mosquito-borne virus, and two of them died.
Massachusetts and Vermont have each announced a human case of EEE this summer, and New Hampshire's state epidemiologist said the region seems to be at higher risk for getting the virus and urged people to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes.
"We believe there is an elevated risk for [EEE] infections this year in New England given the positive mosquito samples identified," Chan said in a statement. "The risk will continue into the fall until there is a hard frost that kills the mosquitos. Everybody should take steps to prevent mosquito bites when they are outdoors."
The CDC says infected mosquitoes spread the virus, and the best way to avoid it is to protect yourself against mosquito bites. About 30% of people who contract the virus die, while survivors may have neurological problems. Symptoms include fever, chills and muscle aches. There is no cure for EEE.
Areas throughout Worcester and Plymouth counties started spraying Tuesday night for mosquitoes both in the air and on the ground, while neighbors in Hampstead, NH, are taking additional precautions to stay safe.
EEE is a rare but serious disease, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services noted. It can cause flu-like symptoms but also severe neurological disease, like inflammation in the brain (encephalitis) or around the spinal cord (meningitis) that can lead to life-long disability or death.
The person from Hampstead, about 10 miles north of Lawrence, Massachusetts, developed a severe disease of the central nervous system before dying, according to health officials, who offered condolences to the victim's family and friends.
“There is a heightened risk for EEE for those 15 and younger and 50 and older,” said Michelle Bratti, commissioner for Health and Human Services in Plymouth, Mass. "They love dusk to dawn. That is when mosquitos are most active.”
Bratti adds that the onset of symptoms usually occurs within two to ten days after being bitten by a mosquito.
Even though Perry was 41, medical experts say there are specific age groups that need to stay extra vigilant.
Perry's family tells NBC10 Boston that this is a difficult loss. They can't stress enough the importance of prevention and are urging the public to use bug spray and wear long sleeves to avoid mosquito bites.
New Hampshire tracks the community risk level of mosquito-borne illnesses online — the most recently available map, from Aug. 15, showed Gilmarton, Kensington and Tilton at the highest risk.
