Eastern equine encephalitis virus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iEastern equine encephalitis virus
Virus classification
Group: Group IV ((+)ssRNA) Family: Togaviridae Genus: Alphavirus Species: Eastern equine encephalitis virus

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), commonly called sleeping sickness or "Triple E", is a zoonotic alphavirus and arbovirus present in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. EEEV was first recognised in Massachusetts, USA in 1831 when 75 horses died of encephalitic illness. Epizootics in horses have continued to occur regularly in USA.

The causal agent, EEEV, was first isolated from infected horse brains in 1933. In 1938, the first confirmed human cases were identified when thirty children died of encephalitis in northeastern USA. These cases coincided with outbreaks in horses in the same regions. The fatality rate in humans infected with EEEV is 35%.

EEEV is capable of infecting a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, but not all animals develop high enough levels of EEEV to be contagious to humans. The virus is maintained in birds primarily through Culiseta melanura mosquitoes and transmission to other species occurs via mosquitoes. EEEV can also be transmitted through exposure of the eyes, lungs or skin wounds to brain or spinal cord matter from infected animals.

In 2006, several human cases of EEEV were confirmed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, prompting public safety fears after several fatalities. As of 8/26/06, 3 cases including 1 death have been reported in Massachusetts. Authorities have sprayed regions of Massachusetts by crop duster as many as three times during the summer of 2006.: [1][2]

The CDC web page with more complete information: [3]

EEEV is closely related to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and Western equine encephalitis virus.