ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — There is a new warning in Florida about the Eastern equine encephalitis virus(EEEV), a mosquito-borne virus that causes brain swelling in humans.
The Florida Health Department reported an uptick in mosquito-borne disease activity in Orange County, thus increasing the risk of transmission to humans.
The alert comes after several sentinel chickens in the same flock tested positive for EEEV infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most cases of EEE have been reported in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina. There are an average of seven cases of EEE reported annually. Human cases “occur relatively infrequently, largely because the primary transmission cycle takes place in and around swampy areas where human populations tend to be limited.”
Experts are reminding people to take steps to protect against mosquitoes.
Those include:
- Drain standing water
- Cover skin with clothing or repellent
- Use repellent with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET
The CDC set up a website to help you find the right repellent for you and your family.
