Greenwich Department of Health
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by EEE virus.
What are the symptoms of EEE?
Most people infected with EEE virus do not become ill. When symptoms do occur, they can range from mild fever and headache to coma. Other symptoms include high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, neck stiffness, tremors, or confusion. Severe cases include inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) which can lead to coma, convulsions, and death.
How soon after being bitten by a mosquito infected with EEE virus do symptoms occur?
Symptoms usually occur 3 to 10 days after an infected mosquito bites a person.
What is the treatment for EEE?
There is no cure for EEE, and 3 of every 10 people who get the disease die from it. Doctors provide supportive treatment, lower the fever, and ease the pressure on the brain and spinal cord. Some people who survive this disease will be permanently disabled and only about half recover completely.
Is there a vaccine to protect humans from EEE?
No. There is no vaccine because the EEE virus occurs so infrequently in people. (There is a vaccine for use in horses.)
How common are human cases of EEE in the United States?
In the United States, an average of 6 human cases of EEE are reported annually.
Have there been any human cases of EEE in Connecticut?
In 2013, the first human case of EEE infection in Connecticut was identified. This case involved an adult resident of eastern Connecticut who was hospitalized with encephalitis and died in fall 2013. So far in 2019 there have been 2 human cases of EEE infection again on the eastern side of the state and both people died.
Have there been any horse cases of EEE in Connecticut?
Horse cases occur sporadically in Connecticut and are believed to have occurred among horses as far back as 1928 when there was a severe outbreak in New London County with about 100 cases. Symptoms may include appetite loss, drooping eyelids and lower lip, aimless wandering, and circling, blindness, and inability to stand. The infection is fatal to horses in more than 90 percent of cases, and death usually occurs in 2 to 3 days. A vaccine is available for use in horses.
How is EEE spread?
Mosquitoes spread the EEE virus. The virus is carried by birds that live in freshwater swamps and is generally found only in these birds and in mosquitoes that feed on birds but not people. In some years, however, many birds get infected and other types of mosquitoes pick up the virus that also bite people and horses. The risk of getting EEE is highest from late July through September. The virus is spread by adult mosquitoes, which are killed by frost in the fall. The EEE virus is not spread by people and horses with the disease.
Can any mosquito spread EEE to people?
No. In Connecticut, there are 52 different mosquito species. Since 1996, EEE virus has been isolated from mosquitoes in Connecticut every year except 1999, usually during September and early October. The virus is generally maintained by an exclusive bird-biting mosquito called Culiseta melanura but has been found in 9 other mosquito species in Connecticut, 6 of which are known to bite people.
How can I lower my risk of getting EEE?
You should try to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. If EEE is found in your area, you should:
Minimize time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light-colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
Consider the use of mosquito repellent, according to label instructions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.
Caution should be taken when camping overnight, especially in areas near freshwater swamps. When camping outdoors in tents in other areas, make sure that your tent is equipped with mosquito netting and that repellent is used properly.
NOTE: These measures also help to protect against infection with West Nile virus, another virus transmitted by mosquitoes.
Should I stay indoors if EEE is confirmed in my town?
It is usually not necessary to limit outdoor activities. However, you can and should try to reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes by eliminating standing water in your yard and taking personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
What is being done in my community to control mosquitoes?
The State of Connecticut has prepared a plan to address the public health threat posed by diseases that are carried by mosquitoes and has devised a preventive strategy to minimize the impact. Local communities impacted by circulating EEE virus are implementing various control measures based on geographic location and level of risk. At this time, the EEE virus has not been detected in mosquitoes collected and tested in Greenwich. For more information you can contact the Division of Environmental Services at 203-987-1001.
How can I get more information on EEE?
Contact the Greenwich Health Department at 203-987-1001. For specific questions on human infections, contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health at 860-509-7994. You can also go to the Centers for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov.
Content last updated September 27, 2019.