First EEE death in N.Y. prompts Hochul to declare imminent threat

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared the mosquito-borne EEE virus an imminent threat to the public after the death of a person in Ulster County.

The resident, diagnosed last week with Eastern equine encephalitis, was the first person in the state to be diagnosed with the illness since 2015. Their identity was not released.

The Ulster County Health Department is investigating.

Hochul said several departments had been given additional resources for prevention response, including expanded mosquito spraying, through the end of November.

State-operated outdoor areas will have additional warning signs about EEE and have more repellent available for visitors.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority,” Hochul said. “Following the first confirmed human case of EEE, my administration took statewide action to help protect communities—and with today’s declaration we’re making more state resources available to local departments to support their public health response. We’ve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE; we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out to their family.”

State Health Commissioner James McDonald said EEE had been found in mosquito populations in 15 counties—about a dozen more than the yearly average—including Suffolk County, and risk wouldn’t decrease until several consecutive nights with below-freezing temperatures.

“This life-threatening mosquito-borne disease has no commercially available human vaccine and must be taken seriously,” McDonald said. “Mosquitoes, once a nuisance, are now a threat.”

Cases of EEE have also been reported in Massachusetts, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Jersey and New Hampshire, the latter of which was fatal.

The virus is a rare but serious illness transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While most cases in humans present no symptoms, those known to occur include fever, muscle fatigue and headache. In severe cases, patients can fall into a coma. It is fatal in about 33% of cases.

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