Spraying Held in Exeter After EEE Found

Workers on Tuesday morning sprayed the Brickyard Park area after a batch of the insects there tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

It was the first time this year EEE was detected in New Hampshire, state health officials said. Mosquitoes can infect people with EEE by biting them. The disease can be fatal.

Municipal Pest Management sprayed the ball field across from Brickyard Pond on Kingston Road, according to town Deputy Health Officer Judy Jervis. The area is typically a hotspot for mosquitoes.

Town officials canceled youth sports activities at the field.

"This is the first identified positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in New Hampshire this season, but unfortunately it is not unexpected,” said DHHS Public Health Director Dr. José Montero. "(EEE) tend(s) to appear in waves and some years there are more positives than others so we don’t really know what the rest of the season has in store. This is all the more reason why people should take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.”

Symptoms of EEE may include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and sore throat. There is no treatment for the disease, which can lead to seizures and coma. Symptoms usually occur four to 10 days after being bitten.

West Nile Virus, another potentially deadly disease, was also detected in Stratham last week.