HEALTH ALERT: Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Schools
HEALTH ISSUE ALERT
TO: Superintendents, Heads of Private Schools, School Nurses
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner, and Dora Anne Mills, MD, MPH
RE: HEALTH ALERT: Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Schools
At the request of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), we are sharing this important guidance to schools regarding Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The information and guidance in this letter was developed by the Maine CDC, the lead agency in public health initiatives that involve schools.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a very serious viral infection transmitted to people from the bite of an infected mosquito. One third of those identified with EEE will die of the disease, and half of the survivors suffer from permanent brain damage. The disease is especially severe in children (as well as adults over 50). The transmission cycle of EEE virus is most common in and near areas of wetlands, especially freshwater hardwood and cedar wetlands. There is no vaccine or effective treatment for humans. Therefore, prevention strategies are critical.
EEE virus was first detected in Maine in horses, birds, and mosquitoes in York County in 2005. A man spending time in Cumberland County in the fall of 2008 died of the disease. In recent days and weeks the virus has killed horses in York, Cumberland, Kennebec, Waldo, and Penobscot Counties. These horses mean infected mosquitoes posing a risk to people are present. Although the risk of contracting the disease from one particular mosquito bite is very small, since any one mosquito is unlikely to be infected, the risk for contracting EEE is much more widespread geographically than previously thought. As a result, all Mainers, communities, and schools should take action.
Schools play an important role in preventing EEE. Maine CDC and its consulting experts recommend:
- Cover up outdoors.
Children on outdoor field trips and participating in other outdoor activities for a significant amount of time when the temperature is above 50 degrees should be encouraged to:
- Cover up.
Cover up with long sleeve shirts, pants, and socks; and/or
- Use repellent.
Use a US CDC-recommended effective insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or clothing. The repellent/insecticide permethrin can be used on clothing and can be effective through several washes. Always follow the package directions. For details on recommended repellents see: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insectrepellent.htm .
- Limit/reschedule evening outdoor activities or use insect repellent.
Unless the dusk temperature is forecast to be less than 50 degrees, limit and even reschedule outdoor group evening activities such as school athletic events so people are able to go indoors by one hour before sunset, or make sure participants are using and spectators know to use insect repellent.
- Implement mosquito control strategies.
Since we anticipate the risk from EEE to continue after this year, schools should consider implementing mosquito control strategies that include school-wide education on personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites and the hiring of a licensed commercial pesticide applicator company. This latter strategy is especially true in those areas with cases of already identified EEE or near freshwater hardwood or cedar wetlands. A list of licensed companies can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/public/mosquitocontrol_list.htm .
The Maine CDC has also created a one-page fact sheet for parents which we encourage you to send home with students, share by email, and/or post on your school website(s), as you deem appropriate. You can access the fact sheet here:
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/vector-borne/eee/EEE-Fact-Shee-Parents.doc
Resources to learn more about EEE and mosquito control:
We recognize this has been a very hectic year for schools to address several recent and major public health issues affecting Maine’s children. Maine Department of Education and Maine CDC continue to work very closely together and are greatly appreciative of your assistance in keeping Maine’s children and school communities healthy.
NOTE: This Health Alert Issue is being archived as Informational Letter #23 and can be found on the Informational Letters web page:
http://www.maine.gov/education/edletrs/ilethome.shtml
