Maine reports human EEE case in Penobscot County

The first case in nearly a decade

The Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a Penobscot County resident. This is the first human EEE case reported in Maine since 2015.

The individual with EEE developed symptoms in late September, was hospitalized in early October, and remains hospitalized. Acute samples collected on admission were negative for EEE virus, but samples Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention collected four weeks after admission were positive for EEE virus, indicating seroconversion.

This is the 18th human EEE case reported in the US this year, with 13 caess reported in New England. This is up from 7 human cases during the same period in 2023.

EEE is spread by the bite of a mosquito infected with EEE virus (EEEV). EEEV can also infect a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The spread of EEEV to mammals (including humans and horses) occurs through the bite of infected mosquitoes that feed on both birds and mammals.

Most people infected with EEE virus will have no or mild symptoms, such as fever, chills, fatigue, and joint and body aches. While rare, EEE can result in severe disease, including encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. EEE is fatal in about one-third of people who develop severe disease. Many who recover from severe EEE disease are left with disabilities.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat eastern equine encephalitis.

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