The family of the New Hampshire man who died from an infection that caused brain swelling has spoken out about the horrors of the disease.
Last month, Steven Perry, 41, became the first person in the state in 10 years to be infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) after being bitten by a mosquito.
Although his family said Perry did not develop any symptoms until August 10 or 11, on August 12 his mother found him staring blankly ahead and unable to lift his arm.
Perry’s brother rushed him to Mass General Hospital in Boston, and within days, CT scans showed that viable tissue in his brain had disappeared. Perry died a week after being admitted to the hospital.
Steven Perry, 41, of Hampstead, New Hampshire, died after a seven-day battle with Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
He was rushed to hospital on August 12 after his family noticed he was acting strange, but was pronounced dead on August 19, a week later.
“It totally consumed his brain,” said his mother, Judi Perry. Boston News 25“His entire brain was infected. The disease spread rapidly.”
“He was a great guy. It’s heartbreaking. Very hard to understand.”
Perry’s death comes amid a wave of illnesses on the East Coast that has prompted several counties in Massachusetts and Vermont to issue stay-at-home orders.
Maine health officials are also considering instituting closures and declaring EEE a public health emergency.
While his family is unsure of how exactly he became infected, they noted that he spent time at a family home by the lake, where EEE was present in mosquitoes.
EEE is extremely rare in humans, affecting only 11 per year, according to the CDC, although the risks are serious.
One-third of people infected with Triple E die, and those who recover are often left with lifelong physical and mental difficulties.
Mr Perry is survived by his mother, girlfriend, three brothers and six nephews. He is pictured above. Mr Perry was also described as an avid golfer.
The map above shows counties where EEE has been detected between 2003 and 2023. Dark blue areas represent locations with human cases.
EEE cases appear to have increased slightly since the Covid pandemic, although experts say the virus remains rare in humans.
The virus circulates in the environment among mosquitoes and birds that are commonly found in freshwater marshes. Humans and other animals, such as horses, can become infected when mosquitoes feed on them. Horses cannot transmit the virus.
According to the latest CDC data, Wisconsin, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey have each reported one human case this year.
There are no vaccines or medications to treat Triple E. The CDC recommends protecting yourself from mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants.
“If Steven’s death can be used to help prevent someone, any person or family from having to go through this type of unimaginable loss, it’s worth it,” Perry’s sister, Susan Hamilton, told Boston 25 News.
‘When it affects you or your family, it doesn’t matter how rare it is.
“The more people know about this, the more people can take it seriously. We just hope people are listening.”