Urgent Warning: Rare Mosquito Virus Kills New Hampshire Local

[Music] the small picturesque State of New Hampshire was recently struck by tragedy a resident passed away from a rare and deadly disease caused by a mosquito it's a stark reminder that danger can lurk in the most unexpected places this mosquito carried a rare virus called Eastern equin iny litis or E for short you ever hear of it most people haven't We're Not educated about it so we don't take the necessary precautions this New Hampshire tragedy forces us to ask some tough questions what is EE e how worried should we be and what can we do to protect ourselves and our families [Music] e is a serious illness it affects the brain causing inflammation and swelling this can lead to all sorts of problems from headaches and fever to seizures and coma the scariest part there's no cure for E doctors can try to treat the symptoms but ultimately there's no guarantee it's virus that attacks quickly and without Mercy knowledge is power the more we know about e the better equipped we are to protect ourselves and our loved ones so buckle up folks we're about to delve into the world of [Music] e Eastern Aquin in sephtis it's a mouthful right e for short we're talking talking about a virus that attacks the brain symptoms include sudden high fever chills and severe headaches e can also cause confusion disorientation and in severe cases seizures coma even paralysis yeah this virus doesn't mess around it's a serious threat that requires our attention so let's understand it [Music] better now you might be thinking if this e thing is so bad why haven't I heard about it before well the good news is it's pretty rare the bad news is it's been around for a while quietly lurking in the shadows the first recorded case has popped up in the the 1800s mostly in horses hence the equin part of its name over the years there have been these small outbreaks these little clusters of cases that send shivers down the spines of Public Health officials it's like this creepy game of viral whack Amo and each time it pops up it it's a stark reminder that this rare disease is still out there still a threat and still capable of causing some serious damage so how does this nasty virus spread well it's not like catching a cold from your sneezing coworker e is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito only certain types of mosquitoes can carry the E virus and those mosquitoes get infected when they bite infected Birds it's like a twisted Little Love Triangle Birds mosquitoes and US humans caught in the middle think of it like this a mosquito bites an infected bird picks up the virus then buzzes over to you for a little snack and Bam just like that you could be infected the worst part you might not even know you've been bitten these mosquitoes are stealthy Little [Music] Ninjas here's a little good news jar bad news situation for you the good news is e is incredibly rare on average only about seven cases of ee are reported in the US each year that's right seven out of a country of over 330 million people only a handful get e e but here's the bad news just because it's rare doesn't mean it can't happen to you remember that New Hampshire resident we talked about they probably thought he was something that happened to other people too Rarity doesn't offer much comfort when you're the Unlucky winner of this viral [Music] Lottery now let's talk about how this this sneaky virus actually spreads you can't catch ee by shaking hands sharing a drink or even kissing someone who's infected nope this virus relies on a tiny winged accomplice the mosquito but not just any mosquito will do ee is primarily spread by a type of mosquito called these guys pick up the virus by feeding on infe ined Birds these infected mosquitoes then go on to bite humans and Bam that's how the virus jumps from birds to us the scary part many people don't even realize they've been bitten by an infected [Music] mosquito okay so you've been bitten by an infected mosquito now what well the ee virus doesn't waste any time it travels through your bloodstream making a beine for your central nervous system once inside the virus causes inflammation and swelling in the brain in severe cases the swelling can be so bad that it damages brain cells leading to permanent neurological problems coma or even death it's like a the home invasion but instead of stealing your TV the virus is messing with your most vital [Music] organ now while anyone can get ee some people are more vulnerable than others infants folks over the age of 50 and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of developing severe complications from the virus they're more susceptible to the virus's attacks and less equipped to fight back so if you or someone you love falls into one of these categories it's extra important to take precautions against mosquito bites remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure especially when it comes to a virus like EE [Music] Okay so we've established that e is bad news but before you start living in a hermetically sealed bubble let's talk about what we can do to fight back because the good news is there are things we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this nasty virus the best defense prevention it's like that old saying goes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and when it comes to EE prevention is key because once you've got it there's no cure think of mosquito protection as your e umbrella all right so how do we gear up for this mosquito War well think of yourself as a warrior going into battle you need the right armor to protect yourself and in this case your armor is mosquito repellent look for repellent containing deep piden or oil of Lemon Eucalyptus apply to exposed to skin and clothing and reapply as directed next up clothing when you're in mosquito territory especially at dawn and dusk cover up long sleeves pants socks the works and don't forget about your home mosquitoes love to hang out in standing water so empty any containers around your house that might collect water and make sure your window screens are in good repair with no holes or [Music] tears now protecting yourself is great but we're all in this together we need to think about CommunityWide efforts to combat ee local Health departments play a crucial role in this fight they monitor mosquito populations test for viruses like EE and spray for mosquitoes when necessary communities can help by reporting any dead birds they find especially Crow R JS and other birds in the Corvette family these birds are particularly susceptible to EE and finding dead birds can be an early warning sign of an outbreak remember we're stronger together by working together we can create a united front against EE and protect our communities from this serious threat [Laughter] [Music] so we've talked about prevention but what happens if despite our best efforts someone gets infected with EE well the first thing to remember is Don't Panic early detection and treatment are crucial ee can be tricky to diagnose because it's early symptoms mimic those of other common illnesses if you or someone you know experiences a sudden onset of these symptoms especially after being in an area with mosquitos it's crucial to seek medical attention immediately early diagnosis is key because the sooner treatment Begins the better the chances of a positive outcome remember knowledge is power and early action can make all the [Music] difference now when a mosquito born illness like e pops up it's not just about individual responsibility it's a public health issue and that means it's everyone's problem Public Health officials are like the firefighter ERS in this scenario they're the ones responsible for monitoring disease outbreaks educating the public and implementing control measures but just like firefighters need everyone's cooperation to prevent fires Public Health officials need everyone to do their part to prevent the spread of diseases like ee that means taking personal precautions like using mosquito repellent eliminating breeding SES around your home and being aware of the risks remember public health is a shared responsibility over the years we've seen how quickly mosquito born illnesses can spiral into full-blown outbreaks remember zika virus West Nile Virus these outbreak serve as Stark reminders of how vulnerable we are to these Tiny But Mighty creatures take westn virus for example it first appeared in the US in 1999 and it quickly spread across the country thousands of people were infected and hundreds died but we learned valuable lessons from that outbreak we learned the importance of mosquito surveillance and control public education and rapid response today Public Health officials are better equipped to handle outbreaks but the fight is far from over while we're talking about ee in the US it's important to remember that this virus isn't confined to our borders it's a global citizen with cases reported in North Central and South America as well as the Caribbean and it's not just e mosquito-born illnesses are a major public health concern worldwide the global nature of these diseases highlights the need for international cooperation we need to share information resources and strategies to effectively combat these threats it's a stark reminder that we're all connected and we need to work together to protect ourselves and our [Music] planet section four the unending battle research and development for a cure while we've made strides in controlling mosquito born illnesses the Holy Grail remains elusive a cure currently there are no specific treatments for most of these viruses but scientists aren't giving up they're tirelessly searching for vaccines antiviral drugs and other treatments imagine a world where a simple shot could protect you from these diseases with continued research and investment it could become a reality until then our best defense remains prevention and early [Music] detection a community Mourns the human cost of ee the news of the New Hampshire resident's death hit the community hard behind the statistics and public health warnings there are real people whose lives are forever changed neighbors describe the victim as a kind and gentle soul they loved gardening and bird watching the family chose to grieve in private they expressed gratitude for the community support and urged precautions against mosquito bites the tragedy served as a wakeup call for many e e was real close to home and had taken one of their [Music] own searching for answers the response to tragedy in the wake of the tragedy local Health officials sprang into action they conducted extensive mosquito surveillance in the area where the victim lived um setting up traps to collect mosquitoes for testing they also increased mosquito control efforts spraying insecticides in areas with high mosquito populations Town meetings were held to educate the public about ee its symptoms and how to prevent mosquito bites Health officials distributed informational pamphlets answer questions from concerned residents and emphasize the importance of personal protection measures the community rallied together determined to prevent another tragedy neighbors help neighbors clean up potential uh mosquito breeding sites around their homes local businesses donated mosquito repellent to be distributed at community centers the message was clear this tragedy had shaken the community to its core but it had also ignited a collective determination to fight back against EE and protect their own tiny bite big impact lessons from a tragedy this New Hampshire tragedy is a punch in the gut even in idilic New England danger can lurk unexpectedly a tiny mosquito bite can have life-altering consequences it's easy to feel helpless against e one minute you're at a barbecue the next in a hospital bed but fear is not the answer knowledge is power understanding ee helps us protect ourselves this tragedy is a wakeup call for public health staying ahead of the buzz a future free from Fear so what's the the takeaway here what can we do to prevent another tragedy like this from happening prevention is key use mosquito repellent wear protective clothing and eliminate breeding sites Public Health officials play a crucial role but they need our support participate in community programs and stay informed invest in research for vaccines and treatments imagine a future where a simple shot protects us the New Hampshire tragedy is called to action together we can create a future free from Fear