First Human Death from Eastern Equine Encephalitis Confirmed in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health urges mosquito bite prevention as rare but deadly virus spreads, with cases rising in multiple regions.

An Ottawa resident who died in August tested positive for the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, marking the city's first confirmed human case.
EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause severe brain inflammation, coma, and death, with a fatality rate of about 30% in humans.
Health officials in Massachusetts report a worse-than-average year for EEE, with multiple towns at critical risk and increased mosquito control efforts underway.
There is no vaccine for humans, and prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites through repellents, protective clothing, and repairing window screens.
EEE outbreaks are becoming more frequent due to changing climate conditions, with the virus spreading among birds and mosquitoes before potentially infecting humans.