US Man Dies Of Rare Mosquito Virus; Rising Cases Cause Concern (image @Pixabay)
A man from USA died last week following a five-year fight with a mosquito-borne virus that kills almost 30% of patients. Reportedly, the rare disease is also making a comeback in the tri-state area on the East Coast.
The man, identified as Richard Pawulski, 49, contracted Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) while performing garden work on his woods property in August 2019, said the New York Post.
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Even the ones who survive the virus’ first outbreak, which attacks the brain, are often left with lasting impairments and neurologic issues. Pawulski had severe migraines and was vomiting yellow bile when he first developed the condition, but doctors were confused.
“I’m not joking when I say your life can change in the blink of an eye, because that was what happened to us,” the man’s grieving daughter of Richard, Amellia Pawulski, 18, told The Post.
Eastern equine encephalitis is caused by a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, said Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a rare but serious disease. Reportedly, approximately 30% of people who develop severe eastern equine encephalitis die. Many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems. Symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, behavioural changes, and drowsiness.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat eastern equine encephalitis. People living in areas where eastern equine encephalitis virus circulates should protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites.
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In August this year, a man from New Hampshire died after contracting the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.
“The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified three human infections, including two fatalities,” New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said in a statement.
(With inputs from agencies)
