Tagged: EEE

The New York State Department of  Agriculture is urging horse owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalitis and the West Nile virus.

Though the dry weather is causing hardships for some, there is at least one benefit -- mosquito populations are down in central New York.

Last year the mosquito-borne virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis killed at least a dozen horses and a four-year-old Oswego County girl. This week, state Senator Patty Ritchie is hosting two clinics in the North Country where horse owners can have their animals vaccinated for free.

Several New York counties are taking new steps to stop the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.

Three people have died in the last three years in Central New York from the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, which can be spread from mosquitoes to  humans.

The deaths have sent scares across the region, and the health departments in Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, and Oneida Counties are taking it seriously.

“It is a rare disease, but it is a very fatal disease and I think that that is very frightening for everybody,” remarked Onondaga County Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow.

It seems unbelievable that a healthy 5-year-old could die from a mosquito bite in central New York.  But in August, Eastern Equine Encephalitis took the life of Maggie Wilcox of Oswego County.

When asked how she is doing, Maggie’s mom Julie says “I don’t even know how to answer that question. Bad. Coping. Trying to deal. [I’m here] to support, to try to get something accomplished. If my presence here helps in any way, shape or form, then I want it to,” said Wilcox.

The war on Triple-E in Central New York is getting some federal firepower.  New York’s senior U.S. Senator has a plan he hopes will help deal with a virus , that's transmitted by mosquitos and has become a part of our environment.

Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday a three pronged federal plan to help local officials fight Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the mosquito borne illness that killed a 4 year old Oswego County girl this summer. 

"Our local and state health departments have done a great job," said Schumer. "I have no dispute with them. They could use federal help."