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By Jim Douglas |
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August 28, 2010 -
As a precautionary measure to fight Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in
Eastern Equine
Encephalitis is caused by the most neuropathogenic arbovirus transmitted
in the
Eastern Equine
Encephalitis is relatively rare, with 89 human cases reported in |
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Eastern equine
encephalitis virus (EEE), commonly called sleeping sickness (not to
be confused with Trypanosomiasis) or Triple E, is a zoonotic
alphavirus and arbovirus present in North, Central and South America
and the Caribbean. EEE was first recognized in Massachusetts, USA in
1831 when 75 horses died of encephalitic illness. Epizootics in
horses have continued to occur regularly in the United States. EEE
is found today in the eastern part of the country and is often
associated with coastal plains.
Outbreaks of EEE usually occur in EEE is capable of infecting a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The virus is maintained in nature through a bird - mosquito cycle. There are two mosquito species primarily involved in this portion of the cycle, they are Culiseta melanura and Cs. morsitans. These mosquitoes feed on the blood of birds. The amount of virus found in nature increases throughout the summer as more birds and more mosquitoes become infected. |
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Transmission of EEEV to mammals occurs via other mosquitoes. These other mosquitoes are called bridge vectors because they bring the virus from avian populations to mammalian populations. They include Coquiletidia perturbans, Aedes vexans, Ochlerotatus sollicitans and Oc. canadensis. All these mosquitoes are primarily mammalian feeders. Generally, people only become sick through the bite of an infected mosquito. Humans, horses and other infected mammals do not circulate enough virus in their blood to infect additional mosquitoes. There have been some cases where EEEV has been contracted through lab exposures or from exposure of the eyes, lungs or skin wounds to brain or spinal cord matter from infected animals.
Dynamic Aviation
played a key role in helping the state combat the threat of Eastern
equine encephalitis.
?We?re pleased to have been able to support this time-sensitive request
from the state of
?Everything went
flawlessly,? said Mark Buffone, executive director of the State
Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board for Dynamic Aviation was selected for the project because of its past work with the state and its deep expertise in customized aerial applications in the important area of protecting public health. Dynamic Aviation was awarded the contract in 2003 and last month received an extension of the contract for an additional two years. Dynamic Aviation employs approximately 500 aviation professionals, owns more than 150 aircraft and operates from 20 locations in 10 countries across four continents. Their customized Beechcraft King Air 90s, twin-turbine aircraft is uniquely designed to fly over heavily congested areas, and the company?s fleet is capable of treating more than 450,000 acres in a single night. |
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