
Health officials in Alabama and New York are urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites due to the presence of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), which is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. Two cases, one fatal, have been reported in Alabama, while EEEV has been detected in horses and mosquitoes in New York, although no human cases have been confirmed there yet. The virus causes serious illness, with a mortality rate of around 30%, often leaving survivors with ongoing neurological issues. There are no vaccines or specific treatments available for EEEV. People over 50 and under 15 are at the highest risk, and symptoms range from fever and headache to severe neurological complications. The best preventive measures include using mosquito repellents, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.