South Carolina reports first human death from Eastern Equine Encephalitis

SOUTH CAROLINA, USA — A South Carolina resident has died after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a rare mosquito-borne virus that typically infects horses. State health officials said it is the first human death from the virus in more than 20 years .

The South Carolina Department of Public Health said the person who died was an adult from the Lowcountry. The last confirmed human death from the virus in South Carolina was in 2003.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, often called Triple E, is rare but can be deadly. Symptoms in people can start with fever, chills and headaches. In severe cases, the illness can progress to brain swelling and seizures.

“It is very serious with what we call neuroinvasive, so it infects the brain or the covering around the brain and spinal cord, and so you