Mosquito spraying is planned in several New Hampshire towns after a Hampstead man died of eastern equine encephalitis. Steven Perry, 41, of Hampstead, died after being hospitalized with a severe central nervous system illness caused by the virus, health officials said. Officials informed Hampstead residents that town grounds will be closed starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday to allow Dragon Mosquito Control to spray school grounds and outdoor areas. Spraying will be conducted from 5 to 9:30 p.m., and officials said the locations will be available for use the following day. The Sanborn Regional School District also announced plans Thursday to spray for mosquitoes in schools, parks and recreation areas at SAU 17 facilities. Town officials in Kingston and Newton said mosquito spraying will also be conducted in those communities. Recreation and outdoor activities in those towns are canceled for Thursday. “They’ve been sending out emails for a week. So they’re letting us know what they’re doing,” said Chris Malerbi of Hampstead. The last reported human EEE infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when three cases were identified. Two of those people died. >> Link: Map of where mosquito-borne viruses have been detected Dr. Ruanne Barnabas, chief of infectious diseases at Mass. General Brigham, said about 95% of people infected with EEE don’t get sick or even develop symptoms. Those who do get sick can experience fever, confusion, brain swelling or worse. “It’s a rare disease, but of course when it kills a person, it’s 100% for that person and their family,” Barnabas said. Barnabas said there really is no cure for EEE. Doctors are focusing on helping people feel better so they can fight off the infection. “We don’t have a specific treatment, so it would be supportive care, taking medications to reduce fever, being in the hospital if needed to provide supportive care,” she said. “Interestingly, we also don’t have vaccines, although there are vaccines for horses.” Mosquito batches are being tested for viruses in some New Hampshire communities in the southern part of the state. Mosquito-borne viruses have been found in nine New Hampshire communities this year, according to the latest bulletin from the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. This year, EEE was confirmed in a horse in Kensington. Another mosquito-borne virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, was confirmed in people in May in Gilmanton and Tilton. EEE has been found this year in mosquito batches in Kingston, Newton, Danville, Fremont and Kensington. The Jamestown Canyon virus has been detected in Keene and Londonderry, while the West Nile virus has been detected in Manchester and Nashua. Health officials said people who go outside, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, should use effective insect repellent and dress in long-sleeved shirts and pants. “It’s also a good idea to make sure window screens fit properly and don’t have holes,” Barnabas added. If you start experiencing flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, muscle or joint aches four to 10 days after being bitten, officials recommend calling your doctor.
Mosquito spraying is planned in several New Hampshire towns after a Hampstead man died of eastern equine encephalitis.
Steven Perry, 41, of Hampstead, died after being hospitalized with a severe central nervous system illness caused by the virus, health officials said.
Officials have informed Hampstead residents that council grounds will be closed from 4.30pm on Friday to allow Dragon Mosquito Control to spray the grounds and outdoor areas of schools. Spraying will be carried out from 5pm to 9.30pm and officials have said the sites will be available for use the following day.
The Sanborn Regional School District also announced plans Thursday to spray mosquito repellent in schools, parks and recreation areas at SAU 17 facilities.
Municipal officials in Kingston and Newton said mosquito spraying would also be carried out in those communities. Recreation and outdoor activities in those towns are cancelled for Thursday.
“They’ve been sending emails for a week now, so they’re keeping us informed of what they’re doing,” said Chris Malerbi of Hampstead.
The last reported human EEE infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when three cases were identified. Two of those people died.
>> Link: Map of locations where mosquito-borne viruses have been detected
Dr. Ruanne Barnabas, chief of infectious diseases at Brigham General Hospital in Massachusetts, said about 95% of people infected with EEE do not get sick or even develop symptoms. People who do get sick may experience fever, confusion, brain swelling or more severe symptoms.
“It’s a rare disease, but of course when it takes a life, it’s 100 percent for that person and their family,” Barnabas said.
Barnabas said there is no real cure for EEE. Doctors focus on helping patients feel better so they can fight off the infection.
“We don’t have a specific treatment, so it would require supportive care, taking medications to reduce fever, being in the hospital if needed to provide supportive care,” she said. “Interestingly, we also don’t have vaccines, although there are vaccines for horses.”
Mosquitoes are being tested for viruses in some New Hampshire communities in the southern part of the state. Mosquito-borne viruses have been detected in nine New Hampshire communities this year, according to the latest bulletin from the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control.
This year, EEE was confirmed in a horse in Kensington. Another mosquito-borne virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, was confirmed in people in May in Gilmanton and Tilton.
This year, EEE virus has been detected in mosquito clusters in Kingston, Newton, Danville, Fremont and Kensington. Jamestown Canyon virus has been detected in Keene and Londonderry, while West Nile virus has been detected in Manchester and Nashua.
Health officials said people who go outside, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, should use effective insect repellent and dress in long-sleeved shirts and pants.
“It is also important to make sure that window screens fit properly and do not have any holes,” Barnabas added.
If you begin to experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle or joint aches four to 10 days after being bitten, officials recommend calling your doctor.
