[HMHS News] Community Information on EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis)

[Jean Eaton]

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you may have heard, a sparrow that was found dead on HMS property 
last week tested positive for EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis).

Below is a letter that Bill Carozza, Principal of Harold Martin 
School, sent to the parents and guardians of Harold Martin School 
students. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or 
concerns.


Steven M. Chamberlin
Principal


Dear Parents and Guardians:

As you may have heard, a sparrow found dead on HMS property last week 
tested positive for EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis). I have been in 
contact with officials at the New Hampshire Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS) and they have provided us with important 
information.

1. EEE is an uncommon but serious disease caused by the EEE virus. 
EEE is an arbovirus (short for "arthropod-borne", meaning "spread by 
insects"). The virus can be transmitted to horses, other animals, 
and, in rare cases, people. The EEE virus grows in birds that live in 
freshwater swamps. The virus has a complex life cycle involving birds 
and a specific type of mosquito, called Culiseta Melanura. This 
particular mosquito does not bite people. Sometimes though, the virus 
can escape from its marsh habitat by means of other mosquitoes that 
feed on both birds and mammals. These mosquitoes can then transmit 
the virus to animals and people.

2. I spoke Friday with Jody Schweitzer, a New Hampshire State 
Epidemiologist, and she stated that the threat of the virus is no 
greater at HMS than anywhere else in town, or perhaps the surrounding 
area. The virus grows with the bird and is then transmitted to 
mosquitoes, and there's no telling where the bird came from.

3. Ms. Schweitzer feels the risk is minimal for children while they 
are at school since mosquitoes are mainly active at dawn and dusk. 
However, she does suggest that children could be sprayed with 
repellent containing DEET. If you would like, you may spray your 
child before they go to school, which will cover them during any 
morning hours when there may be mosquitoes present. It is recommended 
that the repellent you buy contain 10% or less DEET. An extra 
precaution is to have students wear long pants and perhaps long 
sleeves to school. In addition, we will be very careful to keep 
students out of wooded areas.

4. Parents need to have a heightened awareness of symptoms, such as 
stiff neck, headache, and high fever. Contact your doctor if you have 
concerns.

For more information, feel free to check out: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov

On the homepage there are links to EEE. As always, if you have 
questions, contact me via phone or email.

Thanks,



Bill Carozza
Principal