THURSDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Although still rare, the
extremely serious disease known as Eastern equine encephalitis may
be affecting more people than before.
In a recent review of two epidemics of Eastern equine
encephalitis since the mid-2000s, researchers found 15 cases of the
mosquito-borne illness among children in Massachusetts and New
Hampshire. Normally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention records about five to 10 cases a year nationwide.
"This virus is rare, but it's among the world's most dangerous viruses, and it's in your own backyard," said lead review author Dr. Asim Ahmed, an infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital Boston.
In 2012 alone, Massachusetts had seven documented cases of
Eastern equine encephalitis, which is the highest number of
infections reported since 1956. What's more, the first human case
ever in Vermont was reported in 2012. And, public health
surveillance indicates that the virus that causes Eastern equine
encephalitis may now have traveled as far north as Maine and Nova
Scotia, Canada.
Results of the review are published in the February issue of the
journal
Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Ahmed said that better detection of the virus is at least part
of the reason for the increasing numbers of people diagnosed with
the disease, but he doesn't believe that better testing accounts
for all the new cases.
"There's a sense that the activity of the virus has increased. People are living closer to habitats of mosquitoes in nature, and global warming is allowing mosquitoes to be active longer. Most mosquitoes thrive in warmer weather," Ahmed said.
And that's true for the mosquito that transmits Eastern equine
encephalitis. Cases peak from the spring through early fall,
according to the CDC.
Despite its name, Eastern equine encephalitis isn't more common
around horses. The name stems from the fact that the infection was
first identified in horses. The disease occurs mostly in Atlantic
and Gulf Coast states, though it has recently occurred in the Great
Lakes area, too. Eastern equine encephalitis can affect all age
groups, according to the CDC.
People can be infected with the virus but never develop the
disease. For those who develop Eastern equine encephalitis, the
consequences are often severe. The death rate is about 33 percent,
CDC figures show.
The disease usually begins between four and 10 days after a
mosquito bite. Symptoms include a sudden-onset headache, high
fever, chills and vomiting, according to the CDC. As the disease
progresses, there may also be seizures and coma.
There is no specific treatment for Eastern equine encephalitis.
Doctors treat symptoms as they occur.
Of the 15 children included in the study, four died, five had
serious neurological problems, two had mild to moderate
neurological problems and four recovered fully.
Dr. Kenneth Bromberg, chairman of pediatrics and director of the
Vaccine Research Center at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York
City, pointed out that "this is a rare condition that, [as] you
learn in a medical school textbook, has a poor outcome. And, that's
confirmed by the numbers in this review. Only 25 percent of those
with Eastern equine encephalitis came out normal," he said.
Both Ahmed and Bromberg said the only way to prevent the
infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. That means
avoiding being outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most
active. It also means that you should make sure there are no
mosquito breeding grounds nearby, so empty any container that holds
standing water.
More information
Learn more about Eastern equine encephalitis from the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.