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Triple E: Why is eastern equine encephalitis potentially so deadly?
New York has seen its first death from the mosquito-borne virus
© Getty Images
The news of several US deaths from the mosquito-borne virus known as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has once again turned the spotlight on this rare but serious disease. Most recently, the state of New York saw its first death from the virus. “Eastern equine encephalitis is different this year," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul as she shared news of the death on September 23. "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.”
Sadly, the death in New York is not the first casualty from this year's peak season. A man in New Hampshire died from the virus in August. According to reports, the victim was healthy and had no underlying conditions, but within a week had succumbed. His death coincided with reports coming out of Plymouth, Massachusetts, that another man had contracted EEE and that health officials there had closed off access to parks and fields at night as a precautionary measure.
So, what exactly is EEE, and why is it so dangerous? Click through this gallery and find out more about how the disease can spread, and what precautions to take.
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