More cases of mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile Virus And Eastern equine encephalitis — are being reported in the United States, raising questions about exactly where the diseases have been detected.
Eastern equine encephalitis, also called EEE or Triple E, is a rare but potentially deadly virus that is commonly spread by mosquitoes in certain swampy areas, including red maple and white cedar swamps in Massachusetts. Experts believe horses may be a host animal for the virus, hence the word “equine” in the name.
Last month, a 41-year-old New Hampshire man who was healthy and had no underlying medical conditions, death from the virus. Now another statesman is fight for his life after testing positive for EEE and two other mosquito-borne viruses, West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.
The CDC and state health departments track EEE cases, as shown in the map below. New cases will appear on the map above after they are reported to the CDC, but there may be delays; the CDC says it updates its data every one to two weeks between June and December.
Health officials are also monitoring cases of West Nile virus, the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States.
Although it spreads during mosquito season in summer and fall, experts warn that a warming climate means Mosquito season is getting longerwhich increases the risk of spreading disease.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who led the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic, recently made headlines when he was hospitalized with West Nile virusLast month he told CBS News He had returned from the hospital and expected to make a full recovery.
The map below shows states with reported cases of West Nile virus in 2024. As with the EEE map, there may be delays before the latest cases are added, as the CDC updates every one to two weeks between June and December.
How to protect yourself against mosquito-borne diseases
Mosquitoes can also spread other diseases, including dengue feverwhich was discovered in Puerto Rico, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands this year, and the Oropouche virus or “laziness fever”, that some travelers have recently contracted in Cuba.
The best way to avoid getting sick from mosquitoes is avoid getting bitten firstly.
To reduce your risk, experts suggest:
- By using insect repellent
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Wear permethrin-treated outdoor clothing and equipment
- Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most numerous, usually at dawn and dusk.
- Drainage of stagnant water, where mosquitoes can breed and multiply
Protecting yourself is especially important for those most at risk, said CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, including the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.
