The last reported EEEV infection in humans in New Hampshire was in 2014. (Symbolic image)

Washington:

In the northeastern US state of New Hampshire, a person has died as a result of an infection with the very rare mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus, health authorities said.

The patient, an adult from the town of Hampstead, was hospitalized with severe central nervous system disease and later succumbed to the illness, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said in a statement.

“The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified three human infections, including two deaths,” the department said.

The new infection and death come amid growing concern among government agencies across New England about the increasing danger posed by electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), a threat likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts announced the state’s first human case of electrical and electronic disease – a man in his 80s. Authorities urged residents to observe voluntary outdoor curfews, close public parks and begin aerial and ground spraying efforts to control mosquito populations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.

It can also cause serious neurological diseases such as inflammation of the brain and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord, also called encephalitis or meningitis.

About 30 percent of those infected die, and many survivors suffer from lasting physical or psychological impairments. People under 15 and over 50 are considered particularly at risk.

There are currently no vaccines or treatments available.

To reduce mosquito breeding grounds, health officials recommend using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing outdoors and removing standing water around homes.

A 2023 report from Climate Central highlighted that the number of “mosquito days” – warm, humid conditions ideal for mosquito activity – has increased across much of the United States over the past four decades due to human-caused climate change.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)