Florida baby near Tampa dies from Eastern Equine Encephalitis

BRANDON, Fla. - The Hillsborough County Health Department has elevated the county from an 'advisory' to a "Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert" due to further increased mosquito-borne disease activity.

The health department was notified yesterday that an infant residing in the Greater Brandon area of Hillsborough County has died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The specific date of the death is not available at this time.

"Losing a child is one of the most difficult experiences any family can endure, and words of true comfort are hard to find," said Douglas Holt, Director of the Hillsborough County Health Department. "We offer our deepest condolences to the family for their loss.

This is the second death in Hillsborough County this month attributed to Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The health department says an adult female died from the disease on July 1. They are the first two deaths attributed to EEE in Florida since 2008.

Mosquito-Borne Illness Alerts are declared when additional human cases of locally-acquired endemic or exotic arboviral disease have been confirmed, or when evidence of intense virus transmission activity has been detected in animal surveillance systems.

The data has indicated a continued rise in arbovirus transmission activity, such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

In the past several months, five horses in Hillsborough County have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The presence of this disease in the animal population indicates the increased potential for human infections. The Hillsborough County Health Department is working closely with Hillsborough County Mosquito Control to reduce the risk of mosquito borne disease throughout the County.

The Hillsborough County Health Department first issued a Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory for the County April 23rd.

Area physicians should contact their county's health department if they suspect an individual may have contracted a mosquito-borne illness. Department of Health laboratories provide testing services for physicians treating patients with clinical signs of mosquito-borne disease.

Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands.

"Since there is no vaccine to help protect people, we hope that area residents will take every precaution possible to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes this season," said Warren McDougle, Epidemiology Program Manager, Hillsborough County Health Department. "There are numerous mosquito repellents commercially available to include natural products that don't contain DEET."

Basic precautions to help limit exposure to mosquitoes can be found by following the Florida Department of Health recommendations.