A New York man has tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis, the first known human case of the mosquito-borne virus in nearly a decade.
The Ulster County resident was hospitalized, and state health officials said the county health department is investigating the incident.
The last human case of eastern equine encephalitis in New York state was in 2015.
At least 10 cases of EEE have been confirmed across the United States this year, including a fatal case in New Hampshire.
The New York State Department of Health announced in August that the virus had been detected in horses across New York state, including in Orange, Ulster, St. Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga, Wayne and Washington counties.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious disease spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most people infected with the virus don’t experience any symptoms, but medical experts have warned that early severe symptoms can include headache, high fever, chills and vomiting.
About 30% of Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases are fatal, and even those who recover from the disease may be left with neurological problems.
Her father, Joe Casey, 54, of New Hampshire, remained in intensive care on a ventilator after testing positive for three mosquito-borne diseases, his sister-in-law told local news outlets.
“He tested positive [eastern equine encephalitis]”I’ve been vaccinated against West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis, but infectious disease specialists at the CDC don’t know which is what causes this disease,” she said.
“He just got bitten by a mosquito. It can happen to anyone.”
There is no vaccine for EEE.
State health officials urged New Yorkers to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, using insect repellent and installing screens on windows and doors.
Residents were also urged to remove standing water from gardens and around homes where mosquitoes could breed.
The state health department did not immediately respond to a request from The Washington Post for an update on the Ulster County case.
