Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but severe viral infection spread by mosquitoes, with a high mortality rate of about 30%. Symptoms can range from febrile illness, with fever and aches, to severe neurological disease, leading to meningitis or encephalitis. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for EEE; prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites. EEE is most common in the eastern U.S. and Gulf Coast, with cases increasing in late summer and early fall. The disease affects not just humans but also birds and horses, making it one of the deadliest mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S.