An elderly Massachusetts man has died from a rare mosquito-borne illness he may have contracted recently while vacationing near Sebago Lake. While the deadly viral disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, has never been found in humans in Maine, public health officials warn it may become more common as temperatures rise in response to global climate change.
For people who live or vacation in Maine, said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathleen Gensheimer, "The mosquito is like the state bird, just part of our everyday existence." But with the emergence of serious diseases such as EEE and West Nile virus, she said Thursday, Mainers should get serious about avoiding contact with the ubiquitous insects. (Kennebec Journal - Full Story)
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