EEE FOUND IN ALSTEAD EMU
September 25, 2009
Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today announced a positive test result for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in an Emu in the southwestern town of Alstead.
"This is an important finding," said DHHS Public Health Director Dr. José Montero, "because up to now, we have not had positive EEE results in mammals or in species like emus in this region of the State. Since there is no history of EEE in this region, we will be setting up trapping to determine what type of mosquitoes are in that area."
So far this season DHHS has tested 3,346 mosquito pools. Of those 53 tested positive for EEE. A horse in Bow, and a llama and alpaca in Candia have also tested positive for the disease. There have been no positive tests this season for West Nile Virus (WNV).
"We want people to remember that while this is a serious disease," said Montero, "there are some very important prevention measures people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones, including using insect repellent, avoiding being outside when mosquitoes are biting, wearing long sleeves and pants, and eliminating standing water on your property."
Questions about EEE and WNV can be answered by calling the toll free EEE/West Nile Virus hotline at 1-866-273-6453. You can also find extensive information about both diseases on our website
www.dhhs.nh.gov
Prevention Guidelines for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis from the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services:
1. Eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding locations around your property. Please do not attempt to drain or alter natural waterbodies for mosquito control, since the management of ponds and wetlands is regulated by the Department of Environmental Services and any planned alterations will require a permit before work may begin. In warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days!
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Remove old tires from your property
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Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or other containers. Don’t overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
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Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside.
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Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly.
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Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered and keep covers free of standing water.
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Aerate garden ponds or stock them with fish.
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Turn over wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.
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Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
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Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.
2. Be aware of where mosquitoes live and breed and keep them from entering your home.
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Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Weeds, tall grass, and bushes provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes, including several species commonly associated with West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
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Mosquitoes can enter homes through unscreened windows or doors or broken screens. Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
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Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or holes.
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Resting mosquitoes can often be flushed from indoor resting sites by using sweeping motions under beds, behind bedside tables, etc. and once in flight, exterminated prior to sleeping at night.
3. Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
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If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.
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Consider the use of an effective insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. A repellent containing 30% or less DEET (N,N-diethyl-methyl-meta-toluamide) for children and adults. Use DEET according to the manufacturer's directions. Children should not apply DEET to themselves. Repellents that contain Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 have also been determined to be effective. Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.
Click here to view a fact sheet about EEE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF EEE
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEE), commonly called sleeping sickness or "Triple E", is a zoonotic alphavirus and arbovirus present in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. EEE was first recognized in Massachusetts, USA in 1831 when 75 horses died of encephalitic illness. Epizootics in horses have continued to occur regularly in the United States.
EEE is found today in the eastern part of the country and is often associated with coastal plains. The causal agent, EEE, was first isolated from infected horse brains in 1933. In 1938, the first confirmed human cases were identified when thirty children died of encephalitis in northeastern USA. These cases coincided with outbreaks in horses in the same regions.
The fatality rate in humans is 35% and there is currently no cure for human infections. EEE is capable of infecting a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The virus is maintained in nature through a bird - mosquito cycle.
Mosquito larva
Photo by G. McCormack