Mosquito-Borne Diseases Coming to Central New York

Central New York including Tompkins County needs to be prepared and watching out for mosquito-borne diseases making their way around. The New York State Department of Health recently stated that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in multiple counties. These counties are Saint Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Orange, Ulster, Cayuga, Wayne, and Washington counties. Specifically confirmed in horses. They want the public to know there is no risk of spread from horse to horse or horse to human. They in the finer print they inform the public that of the people that develop EEE this infection has a kill rate of about a third . There is no available vaccine for humans. They make the suggestion that people take precautions like using DEET based insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, and tucking in clothes. You should eliminate all standing water on your properties to reduce the numbers of the insect around.

Four to ten days after the bite of an infected mosquito symptoms may appear. What to Look out for based on NYS Department Of Health's Page on Eastern Equine Encephalitis(EEE)is sudden onset of a headache, increased fever, chills, or even vomiting.

These may even progress into disorientation, seizures, and inflammation of the brain. Some may even enter a coma.

These are not the only illnesses where mosquitos are the method of transmission. TIME recently reported about Dr. Fauci, the previous National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) Director and his hospitalized with West Nile Virus. Even an expert in the field such as him has fallen due to these small insects.

The CDC informs and lists for the public Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases. The ones they acknowledge are Chikungunya Virus, Dengue Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, La Crosse Encephalitis, Malaria, St. Louis Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Yellow Fever, and Zika Virus.