Rare Mosquito-Borne Illness Takes Lives in Four States

October 1, 2019

Have you heard of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)? This rare mosquito-borne virus can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and, while rare, can be fatal. 

This year alone EEE has claimed the lives of eight people in the United States, with three deaths in Michigan, three in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut and one in Rhode Island. 

One healthy 64-year-old man in Michigan contracted EEE and was brain dead nine days later. 

Of those who contract EEE, approximately 30% will die; others may develop ongoing neurologic problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

To learn more about EEE, including how patients can reduce the chance of getting infected with this virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Frequently Asked Questions.