SeekingtheTruth
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/10/massachusetts_m.html
By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff
A 73-year-old Massachusetts is suffering from eastern equine encephalitis, the first time in two years that a Bay State resident has been diagnosed with the highly lethal mosquito-borne illness, state health authorities announced this afternoon.
The Essex County man, whose identity was not disclosed because of patient privacy laws, developed symptoms Sept. 21 while vacationing in Maine. During the two weeks before falling ill, the man had traveled extensively in Maine and New Hampshire, enjoying the outdoors.
While it is impossible to determine where the man was exposed to the viral disease, Massachusetts health authorities said, it appears likely he caught the illness in another state.
After being hospitalized for several weeks in Maine, the man was transferred to a Massachusetts hospital, where his prognosis remains guarded, state disease trackers said. Eastern equine is the deadliest of the diseases spread by mosquitoes, killing up to half of people who develop symptoms. From 2004 through 2006, 13 Massachusetts residents contracted the virus, resulting in six deaths.
With the arrival of cooler autumn weather, the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses such as eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus has significantly subsided. Still, until the first hard frost, disease specialists recommend that to avoid being bitten, limit outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, peak time for mosquito activity. If outdoor activity is necessary during those hours, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks can provide protection.
Repellants can help, too, including DEET, permethrin, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, health authorities said. DEET should not be used on babies younger than 2 months and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of 3 years.
Draining standing water from gutters, unused flower pots, and wading pools can deprive mosquitoes of necessary breeding grounds. And having secure window screens can prevent the bugs from getting inside homes.
By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff
A 73-year-old Massachusetts is suffering from eastern equine encephalitis, the first time in two years that a Bay State resident has been diagnosed with the highly lethal mosquito-borne illness, state health authorities announced this afternoon.
The Essex County man, whose identity was not disclosed because of patient privacy laws, developed symptoms Sept. 21 while vacationing in Maine. During the two weeks before falling ill, the man had traveled extensively in Maine and New Hampshire, enjoying the outdoors.
While it is impossible to determine where the man was exposed to the viral disease, Massachusetts health authorities said, it appears likely he caught the illness in another state.
After being hospitalized for several weeks in Maine, the man was transferred to a Massachusetts hospital, where his prognosis remains guarded, state disease trackers said. Eastern equine is the deadliest of the diseases spread by mosquitoes, killing up to half of people who develop symptoms. From 2004 through 2006, 13 Massachusetts residents contracted the virus, resulting in six deaths.
With the arrival of cooler autumn weather, the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses such as eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus has significantly subsided. Still, until the first hard frost, disease specialists recommend that to avoid being bitten, limit outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, peak time for mosquito activity. If outdoor activity is necessary during those hours, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks can provide protection.
Repellants can help, too, including DEET, permethrin, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, health authorities said. DEET should not be used on babies younger than 2 months and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of 3 years.
Draining standing water from gutters, unused flower pots, and wading pools can deprive mosquitoes of necessary breeding grounds. And having secure window screens can prevent the bugs from getting inside homes.
