The state issued a warning Friday that the risk of contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis, commonly called Triple E or EEE, has been raised to “high” in Francestown, after the rare virus that causes brain infections was found in a horse.
The risk for the surrounding towns – Bennington, Deering, Greenfield, Lyndeborough, New Boston and Weare – has been raised to “moderate.”
Beth Daly, Chief of Infectious Disease Control with the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, said Monday that those risk levels would remain in place through the first statewide hard frost of the year.
Fire Chief Larry Kullgren confirmed Monday that the infected horse was the same that representatives from multiple agencies helped to lift on Oct. 2 and again on Oct. 3.
Animal Control Officer Donnie Abbott said the horse was euthanized on Oct. 4, and that tests were conducted in conjunction with the state veterinarian to determine the cause of its illness.
The tests were important in case there was a threat to other livestock in the region, Abbott said.
Daly said the DHHS tests specimens from any animal suspected of having a neurologic illness, including Triple-E, which diagnosed through the presence of specific antibodies in blood or spinal fluid tests.
Daly said that only mosquitoes can spread Triple-E, and infected people, horses, or other mammals can not infect others.Horses are frequently first indicators of the virus in an area, since they are outside most of the time and thus more susceptible to a bite from an infected mosquito, she said.
The fall is one of the highest risk times of the year for mosquito-borne illness, “because people are forgetting about mosquitoes but they’re still out there,” Daly said, adding that the mosquitoes out now have survived longer and thus have had more opportunities to become infected during their lifespan.
Daly said that any person with general concerns about Triple-E can contact the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 271-4496, but personal health concerns should be addressed with a personal healthcare provider.
Symptoms of EEE virus usually appear four to 10 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the EEE virus. People who get sick from EEE can develop a flu-like illness, including fever, headache, weakness, and muscle and joint pains.
A more serious central nervous system infection can develop such as meningitis and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
EEE typically causes a more serious disease than WNV and carries a high mortality rate for those who contract the serious encephalitic form of the illness.
There is no specific treatment for the disease.
1. Eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding locations.
In warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than four days.
■Remove old tires from your property.
■Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or other containers. Don’t overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
■Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside.
■Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly.
■Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered and keep covers free of standing water.
■Aerate garden ponds or stock them with fish.
■Turn over wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.
■Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
■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.
■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.
■Mosquitoes can enter homes through unscreened windows or doors, or broken screens. Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or holes.
■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.
■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.
■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, para-menthane-diol or oil of lemon eucalyptus 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.
For more information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus, visit the DHHS Website at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/arboviral/.