Once-Rare Deadly Disease Adds to US Mosquito Worries
Protection against bites just got more important than ever
Steven Perry, a 41-year-old New Hampshire man, was physically active and healthy when he contracted a rare disease from a mosquito bite. Perry developed rapidly progressive symptoms and died within a week of hospitalization in August.
His grieving family wants people to know about the disease—Eastern equine encephalitis—and how to prevent it.
Until recently, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) had been rare in the US, but lately it’s been making headlines. Despite cooler temperatures that are less favorable to the insects, reported cases continue, and as of Sept. 21, there have been 11 cases of EEE in seven states, primarily in the Northeast.
The deadliest animals
Tiny as they are, mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth. They transmit malaria, West Nile virus, dengue, yellow fever, and other serious diseases. Malaria accounts for most of the deaths due to mosquitoes. In 2022, there were more than 600,000 deaths globally, affecting 85 countries.
Prevalence of EEE in non-humans has, in recent years, been detected in mosquitoes and animals over a larger area of the US. The virus includes the name “equine” because it…
