AUGUSTA, Maine — A wild turkey from Burnham has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), and it's the first animal to test positive for the virus this year in Maine, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife made the announcement Tuesday amid an "active mosquito-borne disease season" where two other mosquito-borne viruses, West Nile and Jamestown Canyon viruses, were found in animals or mosquitos this year in Maine, according to the release.
There have been no reported cases of EEE in humans in Maine this year, Maine DHHS said.
"This is the earliest in the year that reports of all three mosquito-borne viruses endemic to Maine have been detected in the state either in mosquito pools or animals. This is the second consecutive year that all three viruses have been detected in Maine," the release stated.
These viruses can affect both humans and animals, and are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected people often have no symptoms, but mosquito-borne viruses may cause serious illness including death, according to Maine DHHS.
To protect yourself against mosquito-borne illnesses, it is recommended to:
- Wear long sleeves and long pants.
- Use an EPA-approved repellent on skin and clothes. Always follow the instructions on the label.
- Use screens on windows and doors.
- Be sure to follow the above steps at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Drain artificial sources of standing water around the home to remove habitat in which mosquitoes can lay eggs.
For more information about mosquito-borne illnesses, click here.