Maine CDC has confirmed the presence of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in two mosquito pools from York County.
EEE is a virus
that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can cause
serious illness in humans; large animals, like horses; and some species of
birds. Maine confirmed EEE in a flock of pheasants during 2012 and experienced
unprecedented EEE activity during 2009 with multiple animals and mosquito pools
testing positive for the virus.
Regionally, all
of our surrounding states have also identified EEE in 2013, including mosquito
pools in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Two horses have tested
positive for EEE in Massachusetts as well.
Maine CDC
recommends the following preventative measures to protect against EEE and other
mosquito-borne illnesses:
- Use an Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellent when outdoors, especially around dawn and dusk. Always follow the instructions on the product’s label;
- Wear protective clothing when outdoors, including long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks;
- Keep window and door screens down to keep mosquitoes out of the home;
- Limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk when many species of mosquitoes are most active;
- Remove containers holding water in and around the home, as water can attract mosquitoes.
Maine's Health
and Environmental Laboratory (HETL) routinely performs testing for EEE and West
Nile virus (WNV) in mosquitoes, large animals and humans. Maine stopped testing
individual dead birds for mosquito-borne illnesses in 2006 and no longer uses
them as an indicator for disease.
Maine CDC will
continue to update information on mosquito-borne disease surveillance in the
state every Monday from May through September at http://go.usa.gov/jt6R
Information on
pesticides and repellents is available at the Maine Board of Pesticides Control
website at: http://go.usa.gov/jt6F
