New York Declares Eastern Equine Encephalitis Imminent Public Health Threat

Signage for Cigna is pictured at a health facility in Queens, New York City

A tragic incident in New York state has led to the death of an individual from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare mosquito-borne illness. This development has prompted Governor Kathy Hochul to declare EEE an imminent threat to public health.

The fatality, reported in Ulster County, marks the second death from the disease in the United States this year. Prior to this case, ten human instances of EEE had been reported nationwide as of September 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.