N.Y.'s EEE "imminent threat" declaration means more resources in mosquito fight

NEW YORK - New York state announced Monday that someone in Ulster County has died from eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE. 

The last human case of EEE in New York was in 2015. According to the CDC, there have been at least 10 cases reported nationwide this year. 

"Probably the biggest thing about it other than the fact that it's rare is, it has a very high case fatality rate, which means people that get it have a high likelihood of dying," said, Bryon Backenson, director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control for New York's Department of Health. "One of the big things that we saw this year is eastern equine encephalitis being seen in many horses across many different counties." 

Fifteen counties this year, as compared to the typical two or three, according to the DOH. 

Monday, officials issued a declaration of an imminent threat to public health. The declaration provides local governments with more resources for prevention, like mosquito spraying. 

There's no vaccine for EEE. The best protection, according to experts, is to prevent mosquito bites. 

Precautions against EEE

Here are some precautions people can take, according to officials: 

• Wear long sleeves. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
• Use insect repellents with DEET
• Use screens in windows and doors, and make sure the screens aren't torn
• Eliminate standing pools of water where mosquitoes can breed. That can include plastic containers, wading pools, pots, wheelbarrows and more
• Change water in bird baths twice a week

"The risk for EEE and for West Nile virus is actually highest at this time of year... because these mosquitoes have had this opportunity to pick up the virus throughout the course of summer. And while there may be fewer mosquitoes right now, they're actually more likely to be infected," Backenson said. 

Experts say most people infected do not develop symptoms, which can include fever, headache, vomiting, seizures and behavioral changes. 

Upper West Side resident Ann Gorewitz said it's important to be careful as possible. 

"A few weeks ago, I was talking to some people and I started getting some bites, mosquito bites, and I got concerned," Gorewitz said. "I'm gonna be up in Ulster County after the weekend and I'm gonna make sure I take precautions: Long pants, long sleeves ." 

For more information about EEE, click here.