Central New York Reports First EEE-Related Death Since 2015

A tragic case in Madison County, New York, has marked the region’s first fatality from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a decade. Health officials confirmed that an elderly man died from complications related to the rare mosquito-borne virus, making this the first EEE-related death in Central NY since 2015.

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🦟 What Is EEE?

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a rare but severe viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It affects both humans and horses, with symptoms ranging from fever and headache to seizures and coma. The virus attacks the central nervous system and can lead to permanent neurological damage or death.

While EEE is uncommon, it is highly lethal—with a fatality rate of up to 30% in humans. Survivors often face long-term complications.

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📍 Case Details

• The victim was a Madison County resident who had been hospitalized after contracting the virus.
• This is the first confirmed human case of EEE in the county in 2025, and the first death since a Salina man died in 2015.
• In the past 50 years, only five people have died from EEE in Central New York.

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🛡️ Public Health Response

Local health officials are urging residents to take precautions:

• Avoid outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use insect repellents containing DEET.
• Wear long sleeves and pants when outside.
• Eliminate standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

There is currently no vaccine or cure for EEE in humans, making prevention the most effective defense.

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Sources:

• University of Nebraska Medical Center – The Transmission
• RochesterFirst – Madison County confirms EEE death