Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), an uncommon yet deadly virus, has emerged in Alabama and New York. EEE causes brain inflammation and is transmitted through mosquito bites. First detected in horses in the 1830s, EEE affects various animals but is not contagious among humans. About 30% of EEE-infected individuals suffer fatal encephalitis. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, and severe neurological effects, with infants and the elderly at higher risk. No vaccine or antiviral treatment exists; medical support focuses on symptom management for severe cases.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Encephalitis: Encephalitis refers to the inflammation of the brain, often caused by infections like viruses. In the case of EEE, the virus leads to encephalitis, which can result in severe neurological symptoms, seizures, coma, and, in some instances, death.
- Mosquito-Borne: A term used to describe diseases or infections transmitted to humans or animals through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes act as vectors, carrying the infectious agent from one host to another during their feeding.
- Fatality Rate: The proportion of individuals who succumb to a disease or condition among those infected. In EEE cases, approximately 30% of individuals bitten by EEE-infected mosquitoes develop encephalitis and eventually die from the infection.
- Asymptomatic: When an infected person shows no apparent symptoms of the disease. Many individuals with EEE infections do not exhibit symptoms, making it challenging to identify and track the spread of the virus.
