EEE Virus: Why the US is worried about this deadly mosquito-borne disease. Here are the causes, symptoms & treatment
mosquito-borne disease caused by the Triple E virus, also known as the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. Recently, a US resident died after being hospitalized with eastern equine encephalitis, with cases also detected in other states. This year marked the first recorded death due to the virus, involving a 41-year-old individual from New Hampshire.
But what is eastern equine encephalitis? How is it spread? What role do horses play? And is it a concern for Australia?
What is eastern equine encephalitis?
The EEE virus, a rare but often severe infection, was first identified in horses in Massachusetts in 1938. Human cases are primarily found in the eastern and Gulf Coast states, with over 100 infections and 64 fatalities reported to date.
The EEE virus is mainly carried by mosquitoes of the genus Culiseta. These mosquitoes become infected after feeding on birds that harbor the virus. The pathogen is then transmitted to humans and other mammals through mosquito bites, causing serious health problems, including encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. While horses can contract the virus, they are considered «dead-end» hosts, meaning they do not contribute to the virus’s further spread. Similarly, humans cannot transmit the virus to others, as their blood does not contain sufficient virus levels to enable easy transmission.
EEE virus symptoms
Symptoms of the EEE virus typically appear between 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Early symptoms resemble other viral infections,
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