NY governor declares deadly mosquito virus public health threat after confirmed case

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) declared the spread of a rare mosquito-borne illness to be a threat to public health following the first reported death due to an infection in the state since 2015.

Human cases of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) have been reported primarily along the East Coast this year. The U.S. typically sees between three and 15 cases of EEE annually. According to the most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10 cases of EEE have been reported from six states this year.

“Following the first confirmed human case of EEE, my administration took statewide action to help protect communities – and with today’s declaration we’re making more State resources available to local departments to support their public health response,” Hochul said in a statement.

The fatal EEE case was confirmed to have occurred in Ulster County on Sept. 20. The death is being investigated by the Ulster County Department of Health.

The declaration will last until Nov. 30, 2024.

The announcement from Hochul’s office stated that 18 cases of EEE have been detected in horses across 12 New York counties.

To help prevent transmission, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will be making mosquito repellant available at parks, visiting centers and campgrounds. Authorities will also be posting signage at parks and historic sites to raise awareness.

New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said EEE was “different this year.”

“While we normally see these mosquitoes in two to three counties each year, this year they have been in 15 counties so far, and scattered all over New York State,” said McDonald. “This life-threatening mosquito-borne disease has no commercially available human vaccine and must be taken seriously.”

The vast majority of people who become infected with EEE will not develop symptoms, but the disease kills about 30 percent of those who develop severe symptoms. Half of patients who survive a severe EEE infection develop severe, long-lasting complications.

According to physicians, it remains unclear if certain groups are more prone to severe illness. A New Hampshire man who died after contracting EEE earlier this year was reported to be healthy with no underlying conditions.

The long-standing recommendations for reducing the chances of contracting a mosquito borne illness remain the same for EEE: wear long sleeves, remove sources of standing water and make use of mosquito repellents with EPA-registered active ingredients.