More cases of mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus And eastern equine encephalitis — are being reported in the US, raising questions about where exactly the illnesses have been identified.
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 that 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 conditions, died of the virus. Now there is still a man of the state fighting for his life after testing positive for EEE and two other mosquito-borne viruses, West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis.
The CDC and state health departments track cases of EEE, as shown in the map below. New cases appear on the map above after they are reported to the CDC, but there may be delays; the CDC says they update their data every one to two weeks between June and December.
Health officials are also tracking cases of West Nile virus, the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental U.S.
Although it spreads during the mosquito season in summer and fall, experts warn that a warming climate means Mosquito season is getting longerwhich increases the chance of spreading diseases.
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 hospitalized with West Nile virus. Last month he told CBS News He was now home from the hospital and expected to make a full recovery.
The map below shows the states with reported cases of West Nile virus in 2024. As with the EEE map, it may take some time for the latest cases to be added. The CDC updates the map every one to two weeks between June and December.
How to Protect Yourself from Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Mosquitoes can also spread other diseases, including: dengue feverwhich has been found this year in Puerto Rico, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Oropouche virus or “sloth fever”, that some travelers recently contracted in Cuba.
The best way to avoid getting sick from mosquitoes is avoid getting bitten in the first place.
To reduce your risk, experts advise:
- Using insect repellent
- Wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants
- Wearing clothing and outdoor clothing treated with permethrin
- Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most prevalent, usually around sunrise and sunset
- Draining stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed and multiply
Self-protection is especially important for people at higher risk, says Dr. Jon LaPook, chief medical correspondent for CBS News, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
