Maine officials are considering issuing an emergency declaration in response to the rising number of cases of deadly mosquito-borne diseases.
The state has recorded three cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in pets and 15 cases of West Nile virus in wild birds.
Given the surge, a state public health panel recommended declaring a public health emergency, which would allow the state to receive additional funding and implement “other interventions” to prevent the spread.
If issued, Maine could follow in the footsteps of its neighbors Massachusetts and Vermont, which are experiencing a similar surge, where officials have given “strong recommendations” to stay indoors at night and canceled evening public events when the insects are most active.
Experts hope that by urging residents to stay home, they will reduce their risk of exposure to viruses.
People who get West Nile virus usually have a mild fever, chills and body aches. About 30 percent of cases become severe, resulting in brain swelling and death. People infected with West Nile virus are usually asymptomatic, but about 20 percent develop a rash, and less than 1 percent of people die from the disease.
There are several species of mosquitoes that can transmit this virus, but a common species is the cattail mosquito, whose scientific name is Coquilleta perturbans. This insect is found in the eastern and midwestern United States.
The animals that tested positive for EEE, a horse and two emus, are located in Somerset and Penobscot counties in Maine.
There have been no human cases reported in Maine. The CDC estimates that EEE infects 11 Americans each year, and six have been reported so far this year.
One person has died. Steven Perry, a 41-year-old father of three from New Hampshire, died after contracting the virus last month.
In response to the positive EEE tests, the Maine Arboviral Public Health Panel, which addresses mosquito-borne diseases, recommended that Governor Janet Mills issue a public health emergency declaration. The Portland Press Herald reported.
This statement would likely help the state respond to the virus, Maine veterinarian Dr. Stefanie Bolas said: he told WGME.
This could include making more funding available to monitor mosquitoes that may be infected and raising public awareness about these insects.
While the details of this declaration are unclear, public health officials specified that it is different from the declaration the state issued in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 virus.
If Governor Mills were to agree to issue this declaration, he would be the first state to declare the EEE situation a public health emergency.
Other states experiencing a resurgence have opted for softer recommendations, issuing “strongly recommended advisories” about staying indoors after dark and closing public events.
In Vermont, public health officials shut down one of the state’s largest annual celebrations (a local version of Oktoberfest) after finding 47 clusters of EEE-infected mosquitoes in 11 communities.
In 2023, the same monitoring group found just 14 mosquito clusters in three cities, marking a marked uptick, though only one person tested positive for the virus. The Vermont Department of Health last week “strongly recommends” that people in the state stay indoors between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Similarly, in Massachusetts, only one person has contracted EEE, but several cities in the state have issued outdoor curfews. These are recommendations that ask people to stay indoors between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Residents across the Bay State were angered when local courts suggested they planned to enforce the curfew, a move that could impact after-school programs and sports games.
Although Maine has not had any human cases of EEE, the animal cases are concerning enough to warrant attention, Dr. Bolas said.
CDC maintains a national registry of reported cases of EEE detected in animals and posts it on its website. Most of this year’s cases have been concentrated in the Northeast. The map shows totals as of September 9, 2024.
Dr. Bolas told WGME: “When we see activity in horses, it’s a reminder to humans that something is going on, too, and that humans need to take precautions, too.”
He said humans can only contract the virus directly from mosquitoes and should not worry about coming into contact with horses.
“A horse itself does not pose a risk to humans or other horses,” he said.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for EEE, and people who contract the virus usually take between four and ten days to start showing symptoms.
It usually involves a mild fever, chills, body aches and joint pains that resolve within a couple of weeks. In 33 percent of cases, the virus infects the brain or spinal cord, which can lead to long-term disability and death.
People at highest risk of serious illness are those under 15 years of age or over 50 years of age.
Since there are no personalized medical treatments for the disease, officials emphasize that avoiding mosquitoes altogether is the best way to avoid getting sick.
If you have to go out at night, you are advised to wear long clothing, use insect repellent and avoid stagnant bodies of water, where insects can breed.
Authorities are unsure why there appear to be more cases of all types of mosquito-borne diseases in the area in recent years, including West Nile virus.
Maine Division of Environment and Community Health studies have linked the mass proliferation to climate change, as a warmer, wetter climate is a more hospitable breeding environment for insects.