Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the mosquito-borne disease a public health threat following the death of the first confirmed case in the state in nearly a decade.
Ten cases of eastern equine encephalitis, a rare mosquito-borne disease, have been reported in the United States this year.
After the first person diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis in New York in nearly a decade died, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the rare mosquito-borne viral disease an imminent public health threat on Monday.
Gov. Hochul announced the deaths in Ulster County in a news release and outlined steps state officials are taking to reduce the risk of New Yorkers contracting the disease, known as E.E.
The New York death is the second
E.E.E.-related death in the United States this year. The first case, a
41-year-old man from New Hampshire, died in August. Human cases have also been reported in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of September 17, before the New York case was confirmed, 10 human cases had been reported nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York state officials have not released details about the Ulster County resident whose case was confirmed on September 20. This is the first human case of infection in New York since 2015.
Hochul said that to combat the spread of the disease, the state Parks Department has distributed mosquito repellent to visitors at its offices, visitor centers, and campgrounds, posted signs at parks and historic sites to raise awareness about E.E., and has implemented park hours during times of peak mosquito activity and They will consult with local health departments regarding restrictions on camp use.
state Department of Environmental
The state Department of Environmental Conservation will post similar signs at popular trailheads and other public lands, and several agencies will use social media to warn the public of the threat and provide guidance on how to avoid mosquito bites.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a news release that mosquitoes infected with eastern equine encephalitis are usually found in two to three of New York State's 62 counties each year, but this year they were found in 15 counties, including Suffolk County on Long Island.
This year's Eastern Equine Encephalitis is different: “Once a nuisance, mosquitoes are now a threat. I urge all New Yorkers to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and removing standing water near your home.”
The mosquito epidemic will continue until it gets cold enough to freeze the water where mosquitoes breed. In many areas of New York, that is unlikely to happen until mid-October.
There is no vaccine for E.E. and no cure. Many people bitten by infected mosquitoes do not experience symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, or vomiting. Health officials say people of all ages are susceptible, but those over 50 and under 15 are at higher risk of contracting the virus.
Severe cases cause convulsions, coma, encephalitis, and brain swelling. About one-third of cases are fatal, and more than half result in long-term neurological complications.
Eastern equine encephalitis is considered endemic in North America, with persistent outbreaks; in 2019, 38 cases and 12 deaths were recorded in the U.S., the largest number of cases in over 50 years. Not a single case has occurred in New York City; C.D.C. data show that from 2003 to 2023, an average of just over 9 infections have been recorded each year in the country.
In 2015, when the last human cases were recorded in New York, three people were infected in upstate New York. Two people died, according to local reports.
According to the state Department of Health, seven people have died of E.E. in New York since 1971.
The virus is transmitted only by the bite of an infected mosquito. It cannot be transmitted between humans, nor can it be transmitted from sick animals.
As its name suggests, Eastern Equine Encephalitis can also be contracted by horses and has a 90% chance of causing death. In June, state health officials announced that several horses in the state had been infected with E.E. As of late August, at least two horses had died following infection, one of them in Ulster County.
The virus can infect other animals, including dogs and cats, but is much rarer. This month, two emus died of the virus in Rensselaer County, New York.
Eastern equine encephalitis is one of several mosquito-borne diseases spreading across the U.S. this year; according to the C.D.C., 659 people nationwide have been infected with West Nile virus as of September 17.
