By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Two more people have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), bringing the total number of human cases in New Hampshire to four.

Two birds – one in Manchester and another in Goffstown – found Tuesday, Sept. 6, also tested positive. The state Public Health Laboratory also said five birds found in Hooksett, Auburn, Hopkinton, Andover and Pembroke have tested positive.

Health officials confirmed the two new human cases – a Concord man and a Manchester man – on Friday, Sept. 2. Previously, a Londonderry woman and a 4-year-old Goffstown boy tested positive for the disease.
Officials also announced a new suspect case in Duxbury, Mass., though there has been no test confirmation yet.

The bird cases have been spread evenly around communities surrounding the greater Manchester and Concord areas. In addition to the seven recent cases found, infected birds have also been found in Concord and Goffstown in recent weeks.

“A number of locations where we are identifying birds with EEE are new,” said Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Commissioner John Stephen, in a news release. “This should be a warning that just because EEE has not been identified in your community, that does not mean it isn’t there.”

The total number of birds that have tested positive in New Hampshire is currently at 24.

EEE is a rare disease found in birds that can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. There have only been 200 human cases since 1964, but there is currently no cure for the disease, which has a 35 percent fatality rate.

DHHS spokesmen have stressed precautionary methods for prevention against mosquito bites to area residents.

Safety precautions include wearing long sleeves and pants outside, especially at the mosquito-heavy hours of dusk and dawn; removing standing pools of water from around the home; and spraying insect repellants, such as DEET or oil of eucalyptus.

DHHS spokesmen have said mosquitoes will begin to disappear by late September when the temperature drops.

“We expect several more weeks of the mosquito season,” said Stephen. “We want people to take preventative measures and be vigilant. However, there is no reason for anyone to panic.”

Greg Moore, director of public affairs and human relations for the Department of Health, said area residents have been taking more precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

“I’ve seen more and more people taking precaution when they are outside,” he said. “We are thrilled to see the message getting out there and people taking a proactive role. We are hoping we won’t see any more human cases this season.”

Moore said bug repellant was being handed out at the gates of the Hopkinton State Fair, and that other communities are taking similar approaches to protect residents.

Currently, the 4-year-old from Goffstown and the Concord man are in stable condition, said Moore. The Londonderry woman has been released and the Manchester man was released, but then hospitalized for a second time, he said.