Mosquito Season Woes: New Town Added to High-Risk List

As the temperature cools down, concerns about eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) are still running high in Vermont. The Vermont Health Department has added Salisbury to the list of towns at high risk for the mosquito-borne disease. This comes as a warning to limit evening outdoor activities in areas like Alburgh, Burlington, Colchester, Sudbury, Swanton, and Whiting until the first frost. But what exactly is EEE? It's a serious and potentially deadly disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Most people who get infected with EEE won't develop symptoms, but about 5% will. And for those who do, it can be devastating. The disease can cause severe symptoms, including a high fever, headache, and stiff neck. The warning comes at a time when an unvaccinated horse in Addison County recently died from EEE. This serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking precautions against mosquito-borne diseases. In fact, the health department has reported Vermont's first case of West Nile virus in a person this year. A Chittenden County resident in their 80s was treated and released from the hospital after contracting the disease.