The top two mosquito-borne illnesses affecting humans or domestic animals in Maine are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus. Acquired mosquito-borne illness from international travel include such viruses as Dengue, Malaria, and Zika.


Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

  • Description:  Rare but serious disease that is caused by a virus. It can infect humans, horses, birds and other animals.
  • Signs & Symptoms:  Many people do not have obvious symptoms, in people that do develop the illness, symptoms range from mild-flu like illness to inflammation of the brain, coma and death.

  • Susceptibility: Present in Maine. People are at the highest risk of getting infected with eastern equine encephalitis between the months of May and October.

  • Prevalence:  Eastern half of the United States. Maine has two reported residents with EEE one in 2014 and 2015. One of the cases was fatal.

West Nile

  • Description:  Can cause disease in humans, birds or other mammals. Can be carried in birds, often when three or more dead birds are together.
  • Signs & Symptoms:  Many people have no obvious symptoms. If some does develop illness symptoms can include headache, high fever, altered mental state, tremors, convulsions and rarely paralysis.

  • Susceptibility:  Often during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through the fall.

  • Prevalence:  Leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States.

Jamestown Canyon Virus

  • Description:  disease is an illness that are transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
  • Signs & Symptoms:  Flu like symptoms

  • Susceptibility: Illness can occur in any age group

  • Prevalence:  People who work outside or participate in outdoor activities are at greater risk because of exposure to mosquitoes

To learn more about Mosquito-borne diseases, visit the:  Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention