Eastern Equine Encephalitis mosquito

On this page:


Photo credit: US CDC

About Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus. EEE virus can cause disease in humans and some mammal and bird species. EEE virus can be found in the eastern half of the United States, including in Maine.

EEE virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. Though it is rare, EEE is very serious. Anyone can get EEE, but people who spend time outdoors are at the highest risk.

Symptoms

Many people infected with EEE have no obvious symptoms. In people who do develop illness, symptoms occur 4 to 10 days after an infected mosquito bite. Symptoms typically last 1-2 weeks.

Common symptoms include:

  • Fever and chills

    Fever and chills

  • Weakness

    Weakness

  • Headache

    Headache

  • Body and muscle pain

    Body and muscle pain

Signs of serious neurologic desease include:

  • Inflammation of the brain

    Inflammation of the brain

  • Confusion

    Confusion

  • Neck Stiffness

    Neck stiffness

  • Coma

    Coma

About one in three people who develop inflammation of the brain due to EEE die, usually 2 to 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Many people who recover from severe illness experience long-term physical or mental difficulties.

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat EEE virus infection in people.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place. Take these simple steps every day to prevent mosquito bites:

  • long pants

    Wear long-sleeved clothing and pants.

  • bug spray

    Use an EPA-approved bug spray.

  • trail

    Avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Protect Your Yard From Mosquitoes

You can make your yard a mosquito-safe zone:

  1. Empty sources of standing water around your home, including in man-made containers.
  2. Discard man-made containers around your yard that can hold water. If you cannot remove them, consider drilling holes in them to keep them from holding water.
  3. Put plant pots, yard toys, and other containers that hold water away or store-upside down to keep them from filling with water.
  4. Change the water at least once every week in containers that have to hold water, like birdbaths and pet water bowls. This makes sure that mosquito larvae (baby mosquitoes) cannot grow into adults.
  5. Check window and door screens for holes that mosquitoes can fly through and fix them.
mosquito property maintenance

Resources for Educators

Maine CDC developed vectorborne school curricula for 3rd-8th grade classrooms. The curriculum is aligned with Maine Learning Results. School nurses, teachers, and other youth leaders are encouraged to use this resource in their classrooms.

Reports and Publications

EEE Surveillance Reports

Maine CDC publishes yearly data on cases and rates of EEE in humans, animals, and mosquitoes in yearly EEE Surveillance Reports. Reports are not available for years when no human, animals, or mosquitoes tested positive for EEE.

Arboviral Surveillance

Mosquito, animal, and humans specimens get tested for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), JCV, and West Nile virus (WNV) in Maine. The results are published in Weekly Arboviral Surveillance Reports from July to September each year. This data helps Maine CDC to understand where in Maine mosquitoes might be infected with these diseases and guide mosquito control efforts to prevent humans and companion animals from getting sick.

Social Media Toolkit

Image or Video Suggested Social Media Text
Suggested Text: Mosquitoes need standing water to lay eggs and grow. Even a capful of water is enough for mosquitoes to lay eggs. Dump out standing water around your yard to prevent mosquito bites. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Remember to wear an EPA-approved repellent when you go outside. You can use products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on your skin. You can also use permethrin on your clothes. Find more information at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Do mosquitoes love your yard? Mosquitoes can lay eggs in standing water around our yards. To reduce the mosquitoes in your yard, remove containers or dump them out at least once each week. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Do mosquitoes love your yard? Mosquitoes can lay eggs in standing water around our yards. To reduce the mosquitoes in your yard, remove containers or dump them out at least once each week. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Do mosquitoes love your yard? Mosquitoes can lay eggs in standing water around our yards. To reduce the mosquitoes in your yard, remove containers or dump them out at least once each week. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Do you know the common symptoms of the mosquito-borne diseases found in Maine? See a health care provider if you have any of these symptoms after a mosquito bite. Visit www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne for more information.
Suggested Text: Any person can get sick from a mosquito bite, but some people are at higher risk than others. You can prevent a mosquito-borne disease by preventing mosquito bites in the first place. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Gear up to avoid mosquito bites! Wear long sleeves, pants, and EPA-approved repellents when you go outside to prevent getting sick from mosquito bites. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
Suggested Text: Remember to check window and door screens regularly for holes, tears, or rips. Fix any holes to keep mosquitoes out of your home. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.

Video Link (MP4)


Suggested Text: Can you see the wriggling mosquito larvae in this video? Mosquito larvae, or baby mosquitoes, can live in containers of water around your yard, like yard toys, plant pots, and bottle caps. Dump out containers that can hold water from around your yard to fight mosquito bites. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.

Video Link


Suggested Text: Do mosquitoes love your yard? Mosquitoes can lay eggs in standing water around our yards. To reduce the mosquitoes in your yard, remove containers or dump them out at least once each week. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.

Video Link


Suggested Text: The best way to prevent a mosquito-borne disease is to prevent mosquito bites. Wear repellent and protective clothing to fight the bite. Visit www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne for more simple ways to prevent mosquito bites.

Video Link


Suggested Text: Mosquitoes need standing water to lay eggs and grow. Even a capful of water is enough for mosquitoes to lay eggs. Dump out standing water around your yard to prevent mosquito bites. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.

EEE Resources

Icons from www.flaticon.com