NH Department of Health and Human Services

129 Pleasant Street - St= ate Office Park South Concord, NH 03301

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public Information Office

August 30, 2012

= 603-271-9388

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DHHS Identifies First Positive Test Results for

= Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and = Human Services

(DHHS) is announcing= that = a batch of mosquitoes from Sandown has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). This is the first finding of EEE = in the State this year and the first time since 2010 when one animal tested positive. This is in addition to the 38 batches of mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile Virus this season in New Hampshire.

EEE and WNV are transmitted by the bite of an infec= ted mosquito. WNV was first identified in New Hampshire in August of 2000 and EEE was first identi= fied in 2004.

“This is the first identif= ied positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in New Hampshire this season, but unfortunately it is not unexpected,” said Public Health Director Dr. José Montero. “What is different is that the U.S. is seeing an unprecedented outbreak of West Nile Virus this year and that is even more reason why people should take precautions against being bi= tten by mosquitoes.”

Symptoms of WNV disease often appear 4 = to 10 days after being bitten. If you or someone you know is experienc= ing flu-like symptoms, including fever and headache, contact your local medical provider. EEE is a m= ore serious disease that carries a high mortality rate for those who contract the serious<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> encephalitis form of the illness. Sympt= oms may include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and sore throat. There= is no treatment for the disease, which can lead to se= izures and coma. Symptoms usually occur 4 to

10 days after being bitten.

Under the<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> recommendation of DHHS, Governor Lynch signed a Public Health Threat declaration for numerous communities in New Hampshire due to the detection of positive WNV mosquito batches. Under State statute, this declaration allows towns to continue to ta= ke prevention measures to address this threat including spraying to reduce the number of mosquitoes.

For more information abo= ut EEE and West Nile Virus visit the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov. For questions contact the DHHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.