Maine sees first human case of EEE since 2015, state CDC says
The Maine Center for Disease Control is reporting the first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis this year and the first in the state since 2015.According to the Maine CDC, the case is an adult from Penobscot County. Health officials believe that person was infected with the EEE virus in Maine because they had no history of recent travel outside the state.The Penobscot County resident became severely ill in early October and remains hospitalized. Officials said the results are presumptive as they are awaiting confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Maine CDC reported two human cases of West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease, earlier this year. Only one of those West Nile cases was locally contracted, according to health officials.According to the Maine CDC, a horse from Penobscot County and a horse from Lincoln County recently tested positive for EEE.EEE, along with West Nile and Jamestown Canyon virus, are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. The viruses cannot spread from human to human or between human and animal.”Even though the risk of mosquito bites is low right now, it can take up to several weeks for people who were bitten by an infected mosquito to develop symptoms,” Maine CDC director Dr. Puthiery Va said in a statement. “We want Maine people and visitors to be on the lookout for symptoms and get medical care if they get sick.”Many infected people have no symptoms, but some experience fever and flu-like illness. Severe symptoms include encephalitis, brain swelling and meningitis, and inflammation of the spinal cord.So far this year, the Maine CDC has reported EEE cases in one human, three wild birds, 18 domestic animals and one mosquito pool, which is a group of up to 50 mosquitoes collected during routine surveillance.In addition to two humans, the Maine CDC has also reported West Nile cases in 33 wild birds, two domestic animals and one mosquito pool.State health officials said four mosquito pools tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus this year. Related content:
The Maine Center for Disease Control is reporting the first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis this year and the first in the state since 2015.
According to the Maine CDC, the case is an adult from Penobscot County. Health officials believe that person was infected with the EEE virus in Maine because they had no history of recent travel outside the state.
The Penobscot County resident became severely ill in early October and remains hospitalized. Officials said the results are presumptive as they are awaiting confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Maine CDC reported two human cases of West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease, earlier this year. Only one of those West Nile cases was locally contracted, according to health officials.
According to the Maine CDC, a horse from Penobscot County and a horse from Lincoln County recently tested positive for EEE.
EEE, along with West Nile and Jamestown Canyon virus, are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. The viruses cannot spread from human to human or between human and animal.
“Even though the risk of mosquito bites is low right now, it can take up to several weeks for people who were bitten by an infected mosquito to develop symptoms,” Maine CDC director Dr. Puthiery Va said in a statement. “We want Maine people and visitors to be on the lookout for symptoms and get medical care if they get sick.”
Many infected people have no symptoms, but some experience fever and flu-like illness. Severe symptoms include encephalitis, brain swelling and meningitis, and inflammation of the spinal cord.
So far this year, the Maine CDC has reported EEE cases in one human, three wild birds, 18 domestic animals and one mosquito pool, which is a group of up to 50 mosquitoes collected during routine surveillance.
In addition to two humans, the Maine CDC has also reported West Nile cases in 33 wild birds, two domestic animals and one mosquito pool.
State health officials said four mosquito pools tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus this year.
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