(ANSA) – ROME, SEPTEMBER 25 – Alert in New York for Eastern equine encephalitis: the first death in the state of NY since 2015 of a patient affected by the disease was announced by the governor Kathy Hochul herself in a statement. The person, a resident of Hulster County along the Hudson River, had been diagnosed with the disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, for which there is no treatment, on September 20. Hochul defined the risk of contracting Eastern equine encephalitis as an ‘imminent health threat’ and announced a series of measures to protect citizens from the infection. Among these, a public awareness campaign for citizens who go to parks and green areas to use repellent spray, protective clothing and so on. A few weeks ago, various towns in Massachusetts had even established a curfew to keep residents at home during the evening hours when mosquitoes are most active. The New York man is believed to be the second death in the United States this summer from eastern equine encephalitis, the first being a man from New Hampshire. Other infections have occurred in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is rare but serious: first described in 1830 in horses, it is spread by mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes inflammation of the brain. In 30 percent of cases, encephalitis victims die.
There are no details on the identity of the deceased person in the state of New York. (ANSA).
2024-09-25 14:13:11