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Triple E Detected For First Time This Year In N.H.

James Jordan
/
Flickr CC

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as triple E, has been detected for the first time this year in New Hampshire. The Department of Health and Human Services found the disease, which can be fatal to humans, in a batch of mosquitos from Londonderry.

Eleven humans have contracted the disease in New Hampshire since 2005, though there have been no recorded cases since 2009.

Abigail Mathewson State Public Health Veternarian says the discovery marks the beginning of mosquito-borne illness season.

“In New Hampshire that translates to July through end of September maybe beginning of October, so we’re a little bit flexible with when we end our testing dates,” Mathewson says.

Triple E and West Nile Virus can occur in any part of the state, though the department of Health and Human Services says risk of contracting these diseases is low. Testing of mosquitos for the disease is only conducted in the southeast corner of the state, however, so that is where disease notifications pop up.

Last year, twenty-four mosquito batches and three animals tested positive for triple E.

DHHS recommends reducing contact with mosquitos by ensuring window screens are repaired, and by wearing long pants and sleeves. 

Sam Evans-Brown has been working for New Hampshire Public Radio since 2010, when he began as a freelancer. He shifted gears in 2016 and began producing Outside/In, a podcast and radio show about “the natural world and how we use it.” His work has won him several awards, including two regional Edward R. Murrow awards, one national Murrow, and the Overseas Press Club of America's award for best environmental reporting in any medium. He studied Politics and Spanish at Bates College, and before reporting was variously employed as a Spanish teacher, farmer, bicycle mechanic, ski coach, research assistant, a wilderness trip leader and a technical supporter.
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