What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)?

Aug. 28, 2024

A person in New Hampshire, United States, has died after contracting the rare mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, health officials reported recently.

About Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

It is an extremely rare but serious and often fatal infection caused by the EEE virus (EEEV).
It causes encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
EEEV can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Transmission: The spread of EEEV to mammals (including humans and horses) occurs through the bite of infected mosquitoes that feed on both birds and mammals.
Human cases of EEE disease are rare but can cause serious illness.
Symptoms:
- It is possible that some people who are infected with EEEV will not develop any symptoms.
- Symptoms typically appear 4-10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
- Severe cases of EEE infection begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting that may progress into disorientation, seizures, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and coma.
About 30% of people ill from EEE die, and many who survive the infection are left with permanent neurologic damage.
Treatment:
- There are no vaccines to prevent EEE infection in people and no specific treatments for EEE disease.
- Treatment focuses on supportive therapy, including hospitalization, respiratory support, intravenous fluids, and prevention of other infections.