Deadly Virus Spreads in New York, Can Affect Humans

A rare and deadly virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), has been identified in several counties across the Hudson Valley and neighboring states, prompting health officials to issue warnings. The virus, which can be transmitted from horses to humans via mosquitoes, has a mortality rate of approximately 30% among those infected. Recently, an elderly man in Massachusetts contracted the virus, and a horse in Orange County, New York, has died from the disease. The New York State Department of Health has confirmed the presence of EEE in multiple counties, including Ulster, Saint Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga, Wayne, and Washington. The city of Newburgh reported the death of an unvaccinated horse due to EEE, while another horse in Atlantic County, New Jersey, also succumbed to the virus. A positive test in a horse indicates that EEE is circulating among mosquitoes that can bite humans, according to Dr. Alicia Pointer, Orange County Department of Health Commissioner. While no human cases have been reported in New York so far, health officials caution that symptoms such as sudden headaches, high fevers, chills, and vomiting may appear four to ten days after a mosquito bite. Individuals over 50 and under 15 are particularly at risk. New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites, as they will remain active until at least the end of September. Recommended preventive measures include wearing long sleeves, using DEET-containing insect repellent, and ensuring window screens are intact.