Mosquito bites are killing people in America | 24. he

A rare mosquito-borne virus has infected two patients in Alabama, one of whom has died, according to reports live science. The pathogen can cause inflammation in the brain.

Both cases of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) were registered in coastal Baldwin County, and the disease was reported on August 21. One incident occurred at the Spanish fort and the other occurred nearby.

Local roads are sprayed regularly, but residents should take extra precautions to avoid insect bites. The authorities also set up mosquito traps to test samples for EEE.

EEE occurs in North America and the Caribbean, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus is transmitted by wading birds and certain types of mosquitoes (Coliceta melanura) can capture and transmit the pathogen, even to mammals, including humans.

A vaccine has already been developed for horses, but not for humans, in part because the infection rarely causes disease in only 4-5 percent. For those who do become ill, there are no specific treatments available, and patients are treated with fluid replacement and pain relief.

Symptoms usually appear four to ten days after the bite. Some patients have milder symptoms such as fever, chills, and pain, and they usually recover. At the same time, neurological symptoms also occur in others, and convulsions, vomiting, drowsiness, and even coma may develop. This is a sign that the virus has caused inflammation of the brain or meninges.

About a third of people with encephalitis die, often two to 10 days after the first symptoms appear.

Those who recover usually experience long-term effects, including severe mental impairment or paralysis.

On average, only 11 cases of EEE are reported annually across the United States, but the numbers are highly variable. In 2019, for example, there were 38 cases, while in 2022 there was only one.