The Triple E (EEE) Threat

As if most people don't have enough problems to deal with, many people around the world and in some regions of the United States now have a new and growing concern in the form of Eastern Equine Encephalitis or EEE. This disease has been found to be caused by mosquito bites and generally occurs in areas which can be described as being coastal plains. Most of these areas can be found along the east coast of the United States and in the flood plains of the deep south. One of the hardest hit areas on a year to year basis is the state of Florida where there are deadly cases found nearly every single year.

What Is EEE?

In short, EEE is a virus which humans contract through Mosquito bites. The mosquitos that carry it get it from biting birds that are the initial carriers. The real danger with contracting EEE as a human is that it, at this time has no known cure. Because of this it has been shown that nearly half of all humans who contract the disease will ultimately die from it and even those who do survive will most likely never fully recover from its affects.

The symptoms of EEE include but are not limited to a high fever of a hundred and three to one hundred and six, neck or back pain as well as a feeling of lack of energy. Those who suspect that they may have contracted the disease should contact a medical professional as soon as possible as early detection can be the difference between life and death.

Who Is Susceptible?

Unfortunately, no one is safe from the threat of EEE so the key to prevention lies in avoiding being bitten by a mosquito that has, itself, been infected.

To look at a region which has been particularly hard hit in recent years, one could point to Massachusetts which is known from some significant areas which offer a welcoming home for mosquitoes with its comparatively large areas of salt marshes and other low lying wetlands.

The threat of EEE has grown to alarming proportions in this state over the last decade and multiple deaths have occurred in a number of counties but most notably in Norfolk and Plymouth counties which have a generally higher number of marshy or swampy areas well-known for their populations of mosquitoes.

Protection From EEE

As discussed earlier, there is no real way to protect oneself from mosquitoes that carry the EEE virus other than to attempt to lower the population of mosquitoes in general. For instance, in Massachusetts, there has been a concerted effort on the part of state authorities to increase spraying in areas which are highly vulnerable to populations of mosquitoes.

In addition, many state and local authorities as well as many private organizations are taking more and more precautions by limiting outdoor related activities to day time hours which greatly reduces the chances of mosquito bites because of their habits of only seeking food beginning around dusk. On top of that, many private organizations are curtailing outdoor activities. This includes many sports leagues for both children and adults.

Where Do We Go From Here?

With no apparent progress with the developments for a cure to this deadly and debilitating disease it seems as though life in areas which are susceptible to mosquito bites which could be from mosquitoes that have been infected by the birds that they bit and are now carriers of the disease will be changed in certain ways for a long time to come.

At best, the only real solutions to the problems associated with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are to continue what has been done on the part of the authorities in affected areas and through the diligence of people in those regions. This means that the efforts to keep spraying to kill mosquitoes along with personal efforts to protect individuals through the use of mosquito repellents will have to be maintained in order to reverse that rise in infections and tragic deaths which have been on the rise in all areas in which this is an issue.

All in all, the best course of action for anyone who might be affected is to learn as much as possible when it comes to this deadly disease. Some key points would be to do your research to find out just how likely it is that the areas in which you live is susceptible to large populations of potentially affected mosquitoes as well as knowing about any reports which suggest that your area is of higher than average risk at any point in time. 

Take all of that and combine it with some common sense rules about where and when to expose yourself to mosquito bites and you can greatly reduce the chances that you will end up having to deal with this highly dangerous and even fatal disease.