Rare virus with 30% mortality rate found in Hudson Valley; four US cities impose voluntary lockdowns, ET HealthWorld

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New Delhi: A rare and deadly horse virus, which Infecting humans It has been detected in several counties across the country, with a staggering mortality rate of 30% Hudson Valley and surrounding states. The threat, which until now was largely unknown to the public, has already infected its first victims — a horse and an elderly man in Orange County, New York Massachusetts,

Virus, Eastern equestrian encephalitis (EEE), is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. health officer On high alert. In response to the growing threat, four Massachusetts towns—Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster—have taken the unprecedented step of implementing voluntary evening lockdowns to prevent the spread of this potentially deadly disease. New York Post Report.

The Oxford Board of Health voted Wednesday to urge residents to stay indoors after 6:00 p.m., a precautionary measure effective immediately until September 30. That recommendation will change as the October cold sets in, with residents advised to stay indoors after 5:00 p.m. until the first cold snap of the season puts an end to the mosquito threat.

The advisory, shared with Fox News Digital, highlights the crucial period of dusk to dawn as “peak mosquito hours” during which the risk of transmitting the virus is highest. Four cities have been designated as “severe risk” areas.

What is EEE?

Eastern equine encephalitis is not a common disease Mosquito-borne disease. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes EEE as a “rare but serious illness” that, despite being rare, has devastating consequences. The CDC notes that only a handful of cases are reported each year in the U.S., primarily in Eastern and Gulf Coast states.

Despite the rarity of the virus, its impact is profound, with no vaccine available to prevent it and no medication available to treat it once infected.

The agency also pointed out that humans and other animals that become infected with EEE are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they cannot spread the virus to mosquitoes, preventing further spread from those infected.

  • Published on Aug 25, 2024 01:15 PM IST

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