MAINE, USA — State health experts say a mild winter and spring has created a particularly active season for mosquitos and mosquito-borne illnesses.
So far this year, the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded cases of West Nile Virus, Jamestown Canyon Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in more than a dozen animals and several mosquito pools across the state.
"I don't want people to be alarmed or fearful of it. But is this a concern? Yes, it is," Dr. Puthiery Va, the director of the Maine CDC, said Tuesday.
The agency maintains that, so far this year, no humans have contracted any of the three viruses within Maine. However, a man in New Hampshire died after testing positive for EEE in August.
Experts tie the increased detection of these diseases in Maine with how mosquitos have reacted to the year's weather.
“The mild winter allows the mosquitos to better survive, the mild spring allows them to start breeding and multiplying,” University of Maine Entomologist Allison Gardner said Tuesday.
What scientists are observing is also being felt on the ground. At Quarry Run Dog Park in Portland, mosquitos have become a dominant topic of conversation amongst some dog owners.
"I think it's getting worse. I’ve been coming here for about five years," Portland resident Morgan Delattre said.
While the threat remains, experts point to several precautions people can take to prevent exposure to disease-carrying mosquitos, or any mosquitos for that matter. Long sleeves, insect repellant, and draining standing water near the home are all recommended.