An increase in reported cases of mosquito-borne diseases in the Northeast this year is prompting the Maine Center for Disease Control to urge residents to take precautions.Several states in the region have seen a growing number of West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases. There is no specific treatment for these potentially deadly viral infections, and in Massachusetts, one human and four animals have died from Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE.
While there have been no reported cases of either disease in Maine so far this year, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is advising residents and visitors to wear insect repellant, long sleeves and pants, and to empty any pools of standing water where mosquitos might breed.
