Rare Mosquito Bite Leads to Tragic Fatality in US: What You Need to Know

Rare Mosquito Bite Leads to Tragic Fatality in US: What You Need to Know | Credits: Getty Images
Rare Mosquito Bite Leads to Tragic Fatality in US: What You Need to Know | Credits: Getty Images

United States: Incidents of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in humans are exceedingly uncommon, yet the few cases that do arise can be devastating, as one family has tragically experienced.

At some point in early August, 41-year-old Steven Perry of Hampstead, New Hampshire, was bitten by a mosquito. The exact moment went unnoticed.

“His symptoms didn’t manifest until around the 10th or 11th,” remarked Susan Hamilton, Perry’s sister, according to boston25news.com.

However, when the symptoms did appear, they were unsettling. Perry’s mother, Judi, found him lying on his bed, unable to lift his arm, his gaze fixed vacantly ahead. At first glance, she feared he had suffered a stroke.

But it was not a stroke.

Perry’s brother rushed him to a nearby hospital, and shortly thereafter, he was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital on August 12. Based on his condition, doctors suspected an infection by EEE.

“He was admitted on the 12th and passed away a week later, on the 19th,” Hamilton recounted. “The disease progressed with alarming speed.”

An autopsy later confirmed that Eastern Equine Encephalitis had been the cause of death.

Judi Perry explained that the rapid deterioration of her son’s health was starkly visible in his CAT scans. Just days after scans revealed viable brain tissue, all traces of it had vanished.

“The infection ravaged his brain,” Judi shared. “The entire brain was overrun. It advanced with terrifying speed,” as per boston25news.com.

Even if Steven had somehow survived the infection, Judi said, the damage inflicted on his brain would have been irreversible.

“He was such a wonderful person,” she added. “It’s utterly devastating. It’s difficult to wrap your head around it.”

Steven Perry’s case marks the first instance of EEE in New Hampshire in a decade. His mother believes that he may have contracted the virus while spending time at a family property on Lake Kingston, an area where EEE-infected mosquitoes had been detected. However, the exact location of the mosquito bite remains uncertain.

“It could’ve happened anywhere — even in a supermarket parking lot,” she said. “There’s no way to know for sure.”

What is clear, however, is that mosquito populations fluctuate with weather patterns. David Lawson, Director of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District, noted that the mosquito season was nearing its end.

“I don’t expect many new mosquitoes to emerge at this point,” Lawson commented. “What we’re observing now are just the last remnants.”

Lawson also pointed out that the exceptionally dry weather in September had significantly reduced the mosquito population. Typically, a frost would eliminate the remaining mosquitoes.

“Even so,” Lawson warned, “any mosquito still lingering should be viewed with caution.”

This is the message Steven Perry’s family hopes to spread.

“How significant is it?” Hamilton asked rhetorically. “It’s incredibly significant.”

She emphasized that simple preventive measures, like wearing long-sleeved clothing, applying insect repellents, and avoiding outdoor activities during dusk and dawn, could make all the difference, according to boston25news.com.

“If Steven’s passing can serve to prevent even one person or family from enduring this kind of unimaginable grief, then it matters,” said Hamilton. “When it happens to you or your loved ones, it no longer feels like a rare occurrence. The more people are aware, the more seriously they can take it. We just hope people are paying attention.”