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.
A virus that worries the United States
"The last known human infection with Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEA) in New Hampshire dates back to 2014″, when the Department of Health reported "three human infections, including two deaths", he adds.
The death comes amid growing concerns in the northeastern United States about the risk of the spread of 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 of the year, in an 80-year-old.
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A rare but fatal disease
A rare disease (the United States records an average of 11 human cases per year), Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is transmitted by mosquito bites. Mosquitoes generally carry the virus after biting an infected bird. They can then transmit it by biting another animal, bird, horse or even human. The incubation period for the disease in humans is 4 to 10 days.
According to the CDC, the leading 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 problems.
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.
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Health authorities recommend the use of mosquito repellents, wearing protective clothing when outdoors, and eliminating stagnant 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, due to human-induced climate change.