By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray.
There’s been a lot in the media recently about Eastern equine encephalitis. According to the Connecticut Department of Health, EEE is a rare but serious viral disease spread by the bite of an infected adult mosquito. The virus grows in birds that live in freshwater swamps and wetlands and is transmitted to three main types of mosquitoes: Coquillettidia pertubans, Aedes sollicitans and Ochlerotatus Canadensis, which can then infect humans through their bites.
These mosquitoes bite until the first heavy frost, which in our USDA plant hardiness zone is generally between Nov. 16 and Nov. 30. Approximately 5 percent of people infected with the virus will develop EEE. Symptoms appear three to 10 days after a bite and include high fevers, stiff neck and severe headaches. It does not spread by contact with an infected person or horse.
Although it is a very rare disease, it has a high fatality rate with approximately one third of those infected dying. Survivors frequently have some permanent neurological impairment.
There is no treatment for EEE other than supportive care. Several Connecticut residents have died from the disease this year. Unfortunately, antiviral medications are not effective against it.
Since there is no treatment for EEE, prevention is extremely important. For this reason, I’m going to highlight some precautions regarding mosquito bites from an earlier column and add some new ones. The mosquitoes that carry the EEE virus live in freshwater areas, so avoid these areas, especially around dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active. If you are a camper, do not camp in freshwater areas and use mosquito netting on tents at all times. It’s also a good idea to use mosquito netting on a baby carriage or stroller, since most repellents are not recommended for use on infants.
Don’t let fresh water accumulate in areas around your home, such as in wading pools or bird baths. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that once a week you empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers or trash containers. Avoid using scented products if you are going to be outside, and wear light colored clothes, long sleeves and long pants.
There are also a number of repellents available containing DEET, most of which can be sprayed on clothing. If you prefer to use an organic botanical, oil of lemon eucalyptus (not to be confused with lemon eucalyptus essential oil, which is mainly citronella) is the only organic repellent that has been found to be effective by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Remember that this is a rare disease, spread only by certain types of mosquitoes. Most people infected with the virus do not develop EEE. However, due to the extremely serious consequences of contracting it, precaution is key.