EEE confirmed in Hampshire county, officials say
Early symptoms of EEE include a high fever, stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Symptoms occur within three to 10 days following the bite of an infected mosquito, the department said.
There is no treatment for EEE. Patients with severe cases sometimes go into a coma within a week, the department said.
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The most dangerous complication of the disease is swelling of the brain, according to the department.
'Few people recover completely,' the department wrote in a EEE
Easthampton officials advised residents to reduce the risk of mosquito bites by applying insect repellent, avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours — dusk and dawn — and wearing long sleeves.
Additionally, officials advised residents to eliminate standing water from areas near their homes, as mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water.
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'Check rain gutters and drains,' Easthampton officials wrote in the press release. 'Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.'
'EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles,' Dr. Catherine M. Brown, Massachusetts's epidemiologist, said in a press release last week. 'When EEE is found in mosquitos at this point in the season, the risk may increase throughout the rest of the summer.'
Truman Dickerson can be reached at
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