The Spread of EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) Across the United States

The Spread of EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) Across the United States

January 07, 2020

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is not a new disease. In fact, it has been around for centuries. However, in 2019, the United States saw this disease become incredibly deadly. Reports show that as of November 12, there were 36 confirmed cases of EEE, with 13 of the cases being fatal.

What is EEE?

EEE is a virus that is spread to people through mosquito bites. It can cause a rare brain infection, with most of the cases being reported in the Eastern or Gulf Coast states. It has been found that approximately 30% of people who contract this virus will die. If a person is lucky enough to survive, they will have ongoing neurological problems.

What Are EEE Symptoms?

After you have been bitten by a mosquito infected with this virus, it can take between 4 and 10 days for the symptoms to show up. There are two types of illness: systemic and encephalitic, which results in swelling of the brain. Which type of illness a person gets will depend on their age, health and other factors. It's possible to contract this disease and have no symptoms at all.

If you get a systemic infection, you will experience chills, myalgia, malaise, arthralgia and have a fever. These will last for one to two weeks, and you will recover without any damage to your central nervous system. If you get an encephalitic infection, you will have a headache, fever, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis, convulsions and may even slip into a coma.

Death from this disease usually takes place within 2 to 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Should you be lucky enough to survive the encephalitic infection, you may have minimal brain damage, or you may experience personality disorders, seizures, paralysis or cranial nerve dysfunction.

How Do You Prevent EEE?

The best way to reduce your chances of contracting this disease is to prevent mosquito bites. This can be done by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, adding a repellant to your clothing and accessories, and controlling mosquitoes both indoors and outdoors.

If you're looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away when enjoying a BBQ, having a picnic in the park, or while camping, you might consider using the On the Go Dispenser from MosquitoNix®. The spray used in this machine kills mosquitoes on contact and has a range of 300 square feet. This is a good way to keep mosquitoes away from you and your family, greatly reducing the risk of contracting EEE.

In addition, you might also consider calling MosquitoNix to come to your home and take preventative measures at your property. They have misting systems and fogging treatments that can keep mosquitoes away. These systems are placed strategically around your home to ensure that you get maximum coverage.

EEE is an incredibly frightening and damaging virus. If you are infected with this disease, it can have long-lasting impacts. However, you shouldn't be trapped inside your house when the weather gets nice. Enjoy the outdoors and protect your family and friends by finding a mosquito repellant system to keep these insects at bay. Contact MosquitoNix to find the right solution for your home.

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