Health officials announced Tuesday that a New Hampshire resident has died from eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-borne disease.
Family members identified the man as 41-year-old Steven Perry, of Hampstead. Health officials said Perry was hospitalized with severe central nervous system problems and later died.
Perry’s mother, Judith, said she couldn’t believe it was a mosquito’s fault because Perry was young and healthy.
Family members told News 9 that Steven was an avid golfer and medical professional who loved caring for others.
EEE is a rare but serious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The last reported human infection with EEE in New Hampshire was in 2014, when there were three confirmed cases and two deaths.
“About a third of those infected die, and those who survive suffer lifelong physical and mental disabilities,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “So this is a serious infection. We want people to know that this virus is spreading.”
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EEE has also been found in at least one horse and seven mosquitoes in New Hampshire so far this summer, and the virus has also been detected in Massachusetts and Vermont this year.
Some see Perry’s death as a reminder of how much damage one bite can cause.
“This is personal, friends have died, family have died, it’s very sad,” said Denise, who lives in Hampstead.
Mosquitoes in New Hampshire can also carry the West Nile and Jamestown Canyon viruses, so health officials urge everyone to use mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to prevent mosquito bites.
Judith said she wanted people to realise that mosquitoes are not just annoying little bugs and that taking cover and using repellent when outdoors can make a big difference.
The risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases will continue until hard frosts arrive this fall.
