BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The threat of triple-e remains a concern across our region and many extermination companies are working to address a sharp rise in calls to spray for mosquitoes, the vectors of the rare but deadly disease.

With sprayers fired up and ready to go, pest control companies are making sure their gear is in tip-top shape to respond to calls for mosquitoes.

“There has been a significant change. We have some of these customers calling us back and saying, ‘Hey, let’s get back on the schedule. We want this service because we don’t want any of these viruses that are spreading from the mosquitoes,’” said Ian Gordon with Vermont Pest Control.

In the last couple of weeks, the threat of eastern equine encephalitis has expanded in parts of Vermont, including in parts of Rutland, Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties, and businesses like Gordon’s have seen their calls double to spray properties. “We want to make sure that we’re trimming back the vegetation around the house — the dark areas – pay attention to those, and if you have standing water or anything around your property,” Gordon said.

He says the pesticides they use are EPA-certified and stick to the vegetation and that they are not harmful to pets or people. He says they can only spray when the wind speeds are low.

The state in the past has contracted for aerial spraying of trouble spots but no decision has been made on whether to do that this season.

“There is a real risk, but it’s a small risk. I don’t want people to be over alarmed but I also want people to know how to keep themselves safe in easy ways,” said Dr. Tim Lahey, an infectious disease expert at the UVM Medical Center. He says symptoms of triple-e include fever, headache, and vomiting and that the disease can be deadly.

New Hampshire officials reported last week that an infected resident died. In Vermont, health officials say a man in his 40s from Chittenden County was the first detected case of the virus in Vermont since 2012. They recommend using insect repellent if you do need to be outside. In high-risk areas — Alburgh, Burlington, Colchester, Swanton, and Sudbury — they suggest wearing long sleeves and long pants or avoiding spending time outside at dawn and dusk.

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.

The Green Mountain state followed
neighboring Massachusetts in recommending that residents stay indoors during
nighttime hours amid a rise in EEE cases.

The Vermont Department of Health
“strongly recommend[ed]” that residents in some of the state’s
busiest towns remain indoors between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when mosquitoes—known
carriers of the virus—were most active. This precaution came alongside the
postponement of local nighttime festivals and concerts.

EEE, transmitted by mosquitoes and
originating from infected horses, could lead to brain swelling, vomiting,
seizures, and death.

While the virus is rare, affecting
approximately 11 Americans annually, it had already claimed one life in New
England in 2024. Steven Perry, 41, a father of four, died from the virus in New
Hampshire the previous week, marking the state’s first case in a decade.

In Massachusetts, similar curfews
were implemented, resulting in the postponement of sports games, cookouts, and
other end-of-summer events. Vermont’s measures mirrored those taken across
state lines.

August saw the first human case of
EEE in Vermont since 2012. The Vermont Health Department identified Burlington,
Colchester, Alburg, Swanton, and Sudbury as areas at highest risk, following
the detection of 47 groups of infected mosquitoes across 11 communities—a
significant increase from the previous year’s 14 positive groups in three
towns.

Notable event cancellations included
Burlington’s annual Oktoberfest, one of the state’s largest gatherings. The
event’s organizer issued a statement: “While the eventual outcome of this
virus’ impact and the general response from the public is not our judgment call
to make, the significant costs associated with organizing this event prevented
us from delaying this decision any further to find out.”

Additional cancellations affected
music and food festivals, art shows, concerts, and outdoor movies.

With no vaccine or specific
treatment available for EEE, the Vermont Health Department emphasized that
prevention is crucial. “The best way to reduce your risk of infection with
EEE is by limiting time outdoors at dawn and dusk,” officials advised. If
outdoor activity was necessary, they recommended using bug spray and wearing
long sleeves.

Notably, EEE targets the nervous
system similarly to other mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile. Initial
symptoms include flu-like signs such as fever, chills, and body aches, which
could progress to more severe conditions like brain swelling, mild disability and
death in about 30 percent of cases. Individuals over 50 or under 15 are
particularly vulnerable to severe complications.

Vermont just became the second state to postpone public events in order to curb the spread of a deadly virus in the state. 

The Green Mountain state joins neighboring Massachusetts in recommending their citizens stay home at night, amid high reports of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). 

This rare sickness is carried by horses and spread by mosquitos, and in about 30 percent of human cases, can cause brain swelling, vomiting, seizures and death.

In addition to postponing local nighttime festivals and concerts, the Vermont Department of Health ‘strongly recommend[s]’ people in some of the state’s busiest towns stay inside between 6 pm and 6 am, when the bugs are most active. 

Citizens in some of Vermont’s most populous areas, including it’s capital, Burlington, have been ‘strongly recommended’ to avoid leaving home between 6 pm and 6 am, when mosquitos are most active

Though the virus is rare, it’s already claimed one life in New England this year. Steven Perry, 41, a father-of-four, died after contracting the virus in New Hampshire last week. 

He was the first person in New Hampshire to be infected with the virus in ten years. 

Around the same time, across state lines, curfews were announced in multiple counties in Massachusetts. Sports games, cookouts and other end-of summer events have been postponed across the state, a move Vermont seems to be mirroring. 

EEE is rare – affecting an estimated 11 Americans per year – but in the past year, it’s plagued New England at seemingly record levels. 

August marked the first human case of the mosquito-borne illness in Vermont since 2012. 

The areas in Vermont at highest risk, as highlighted by the health department include Burlington, Colchester, Alburg, Swanton and Sudbury. 

Public health officials arrived at these areas after finding 47 groups of mosquitos with EEE across 11 communities – a sharp increase from last year, where 14 groups of mosquitos tested positive across three towns. 

The events cancelled include Burlington’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, normally one of the state’s largest gatherings. 

The event’s organizer put out a statement reading: ‘While the eventual outcome of this virus’ impact and the general response from the public is not our judgment call to make, the significant costs associated with organizing this event prevent us from delaying this decision any further to find out’. 

Cases of EEE appear to have risen slightly since the Covid pandemic, although experts say the virus remains rare in people

Other cancellations include music and food festivals, art shows, concerts and outdoor movies.

Vermont’s Health Department stated that since there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, prevention is the best course of action, even though it might be inconvenient. 

‘The best way to reduce your risk of infection with EEE is by: limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk,’ officials said. If you have to go outside at night, they recommend using bug spray and wearing long sleeves. 

Once in your system, the EEE attacks the nervous system, similarly to other mosquito borne illnesses like West Nile. 

In a typical case, an individual will experience flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, body aches and joint pain for one to two weeks. 

But about 30 percent of people develop more serious symptoms due to brain or spinal cord infection, leading to brain swelling, mild disability or death. 

People over age 50 or under age 15 are at a higher risk for these severe complications than the average person.