New Hampshire Reports First EEE Death in 10 Years

A New Hampshire resident has died after contracting eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), marking the first human case in the state in a decade. The individual, hospitalized with severe central nervous system symptoms, succumbed to the illness, which has a mortality rate of about one-third among those infected. Health authorities have detected EEE in mosquitoes and one horse in the state this summer, which raises concerns about increased risk in New England until the onset of hard frost. There are no available vaccines or antiviral treatments for the virus, which can lead to serious neurological complications. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services advised residents to take precautions against mosquito bites. Meanwhile, neighboring Massachusetts is also experiencing heightened EEE risks, prompting aerial spraying in several communities.