EEE (also called Triple E) stands for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. EEE is fairly rare. Transmitted through
infected mosquitoes, it has only fatally affected 21 people in Massachusettes between 1963 and 2000 (the most current data
available). EEE is part of a family of viruses that are transmitted and act in similar ways when they enter the body.
I am uncertain how many people are affected by this family of viruses. The family is called Arbo-virus,
which is short for arthropod-borne virus, meaning it is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. All Arbo-viruses act in much
the same way when they enter the system. This family of viruses contain EEE, West Nile virus (both
present in MA), Western Equine Encephalitis and St Louis Equine Encephalitis (neither of which are present in MA).
We have been told that with the symptoms Shiyanne had, and how quickly it became fatal, that they believe she died
of EEE. It was not publicized by the media because the state lab and the CDC were not able to isolate the
virus in the samples they had. Generally they need more than one sample taken at least 24 hours apart. Shiyanne
died too quickly for this to happen. Therefore, they could not call it EEE. An understandable fact. However,
this does not mean that she did not die from EEE. It simply means that the virus was not in their sample. Knowing
this, one might ask how many people are effected by Arbo-virus, not just EEE or West Nile, as some fatal cases are never
given those diagnoses.
Please see the links I've attached to learn more about EEE, Arbo-virus and ways to protect yourself and your family.
Please know too that those most susceptible to the fatality of the virus are those over 50 and under 15. Most adults
between those ages will either show no symptoms or they will present as flu-like symptoms and they will recover, never knowing
they had an Arbo-virus. It is only the young, the old and those with weakened immune systems who are most susceptible
to the virus progressing to a fatal level.
