No. WNV and EEE are NOT transmitted from person-to-person. For example, you cannot get either virus from touching or kissing a person who has WNV or EEE, or from a health care worker who has treated someone with either disease.

No. There are approximately 42 different species of mosquitoes in Maine. Some of them have habitats that overlap, and others have separate habitats based on their specific breeding requirements. Some mosquitoes feed on birds, some on mammals, and a few on both birds and mammals. The mosquitoes of most concern are those that feed on both birds and mammals; these are called “bridge” vectors.

The same way humans become infected—by the bite of infectious mosquitoes. The virus is located in the mosquito's salivary glands. When mosquitoes bite or "feed" on the horse, the virus is injected into its blood system. The virus then multiplies and may cause illness. The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds or other animals.

The Maine Center for Disease Control has developed an Arboviral Surveillance system to track the occurrence of WNV and EEE in Maine, generally beginning in mid-June and lasting through to mid-October. Surveillance efforts include adult mosquito trapping and testing, collecting dead bird data, testing dead birds, llamas, alpacas, and horses, and testing people who are ill with symptoms similar to those of an arbovirus infection.

WNV is NOT transmitted from person to person. For example, you cannot get infected by WNV from touching or kissing a person who has the disease, or from contact with a health care worker who has recently treated someone with the disease.

Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about your health. If you or your family members develop symptoms such as high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, and severe headaches, you should see your doctor immediately.

There is no specific treatment for WNV or EEE. In more severe cases, intensive supportive therapy is indicated, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, airway management, respiratory support (ventilator), prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.), and good nursing care.

Clinical signs of WNV in horses include stumbling, depression, incoordination, and weakness of limbs (partial paralysis or inability to stand), and muscle twitching. However, some infected horses may not show any signs. Although about two-thirds of infected horses that become ill will survive and have a full recovery, West Nile virus can and has caused deaths in horses.

There are WNV and EEE vaccines available for equines. Please note that the vaccines offer NO cross-protection; i.e., the WNV vaccine does not protect against EEE, and vice versa. To be protected, horses must be fully vaccinated or boostered at least two weeks before exposed to mosquitoes. Please consult your veterinarian for more information.

People are infected with WNv by being bitten by an infected mosquito. The risk level in the province is expected to vary by region and to flare up in the summer and fall depending on climate conditions. The public will be notified by public health officials if birds or mosquitoes in the province test positive for the virus. When people are exposed to mosquitoes in an area the WN virus has been detected they are at risk for infection.

West Nile Virus is a virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1937. This virus was first identified in the United States in 1999 during an outbreak in New York. Since that time, the virus has been found in mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans in various locations in the United States.

Infected mosquitoes are the primary source for WNV and EEE. Although ticks infected with West Nile virus have been found in Asia and Africa, their role in the transmission and maintenance of the virus is uncertain. However, there is no information to suggest that ticks played any role in cases of either disease identified in the United States.

These diseases are transmitted by infectious mosquitoes. There is no documented evidence of person-to-person or animal-to-person transmission of WNV or EEE. Normal veterinary infection control precautions should be followed when caring for a horse suspected to have these or any viral infection.

There is no reason to destroy a horse just because it has WNV or EEE. Treatment would be supportive and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals infected with a viral agent. There is no evidence that people can become infected with WNV or EEE from eating infected meat. The small, theoretical risk of infection can be eliminated by proper handling and thorough cooking of meat before it is consumed.

Hunters should follow the usual precautions when handling wild animals. If they anticipate being exposed to mosquitoes, they should apply insect repellent to clothing and skin, according to label instructions, to prevent mosquito bites. Hunters should wear gloves when handling and cleaning animals to prevent blood exposure to bare hands and meat should be cooked thoroughly.

The main route of human infection with West Nile and EEE virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Neither virus can be passed between people by coughing, sneezing, shaking hands, sharing food, etc. Additional routes of human infection were identified for WNV during the 2002 West Nile epidemic. It is important to note that these other methods of transmission represent a very small proportion of cases.

West Nile virus cannot be spread through casual or intimate contact, such as touching or kissing a person with the virus. Little information is known. There is some speculation that the mosquitoes primarily responsible for WNV transmission may not be present in large numbers at altitudes above 8,000 feet. However, until more is learned about the mosquito populations at higher altitudes, the best recommendation is to protect yourself at all altitudes.

Arboviral infection can be suspected in a person based on clinical symptoms and patient history. Laboratory testing of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples is required for a confirmed diagnosis. These tests may not be positive when symptoms first occur, but will usually be positive in infected people within 8 days of the beginning of symptoms.

There are no published studies that directly address this question. Most studies indicate that while mammals can become infected with West Nile or EEE virus, they do not develop high concentrations of virus in their blood or tissues.

Because of their outdoor exposure, game hunters may be at risk if they are bitten by mosquitoes in areas with arboviral activity. The extent to which WNV or EEE may be present in wild game is unknown.

People may be exposed to WNV when an infected mosquito bites them. However, only a small percentage of mosquitoes are expected to carry the virus so the risk of being infected with WNV from any single mosquito bite is very small. For a mosquito to become infected with the virus, it must bite an infected bird.

The first symptoms of EEE are high fever (103º to106ºF), stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy. These symptoms show up two to ten days after infection. Swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous symptom. The disease gets worse quickly, and many patients go into a coma within a week.

There is no cure for EEE, and three of every ten people who get the disease die from it. All doctors can do is lower the fever and ease the pressure on the brain and spinal cord. Some people who survive this disease will be permanently disabled. Very few people recover completely.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus. The virus infects birds that live in freshwater swamps and is spread from bird to bird by infected mosquitoes. If a mosquito infected with the virus bites a horse or human, the animal or person can become sick. The risk of getting EEE is typically highest from late July through early September.

EEE can cause severe illness in any age group, however, people under age 15 are at particular risk. The mortality rate for humans who contract EEE is high and survivors often suffer severe neurological damage.