WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont health officials Friday reported what they say is the first human case of eastern equine encephalitis in the state in 12 years.
Triple EEE is a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by a virus spread by infected mosquitos.
Officials say a male in his 40s from Chittenden County was hospitalized last month for a week. The case was later detected through laboratory testing and officials only confirmed the results on Thursday.
Officials say mosquitoes collected last week from Colchester and Alburgh tested positive for EEE. The virus was previously detected in mosquitos in Alburgh and Swanton.
In 2012, two people contracted EEE in Vermont and both died.