Health Highlights: Sept. 23, 2019

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Connecticut Sees First Death This Year From Mosquito-Borne EEE

A Connecticut resident has died from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), the first such death in the state since 2013, health officials report.

In addition, another person in the state has come down with the infection, as an outbreak grows, according to CNN.

It’s been an unusually active year for EEE, with cases reported in several northeast states. In Massachusetts, 10 cases have been reported and two people have died.

Cases of EEE have also been reported in Michigan and Rhode Island and three people in Michigan and one person in Rhode Island have died, CNN reports.

The disease is spread by mosquitos and people in affected areas are urged to use mosquito repellant, cover bare skin and stay inside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active.

Usually, five to 10 cases of EEE are reported in a year, but for 30% it’s fatal, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of EEE start four to 10 days after being infected and include headache, high fever, chills, body and joint aches. In severe cases the brain swells causing tremors, seizures and paralysis, CNN says.

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