"EEE is a serious disease and, as with humans, the key is to take precautions," said Nicholas Toumpas, Acting Commissioner of DHHS. "The Department has been testing throughout the season in the Raymond area.  Animal owners should take precautions with their animals including vaccinations as appropriate and preventing mosquito bites through the use of veterinary approved products. Residents and visitors of New Hampshire should also use an effective insect repellent."

This year, in addition to the alpaca, a horse in Kensington, two confirmed human cases from Newton and Newfields, and six positive mosquito pools, two in Newton, two in Brentwood, and one in Kingston and Fremont have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

"The mosquitoes that infect horses and alpacas are the same ones that bite humans and can thus give the disease to people," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Jose Montero. "We urge residents to continue being physically active, enjoy the outdoors, but use insect repellent and take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes until there is a killing frost statewide."

Prevention Guidelines for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis

NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services

1. Eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding locations. In warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days!

Remove old tires from your property.

Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or other containers. Don’t overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.

Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside.

Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly.

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered and keep covers free of standing water.

Aerate garden ponds or stock them with fish.

Turn over wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.

Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.

Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.

2. Be aware of where mosquitoes live and breed and keep them from entering your home.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Weeds, tall grass, and bushes provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes, including several species commonly associated with West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.

Mosquitoes can enter homes through unscreened windows or doors, or broken screens. Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or holes.

Resting mosquitoes can often be flushed from indoor resting sites by using sweeping motions under beds, behind bedside tables etc. and once in flight, exterminated prior to sleeping at night.

3. Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.

Consider the use of an effective insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. A repellent containing 30% or less DEET (N,N-diethyl-methyl-meta-toluamide) for children and adults. Use DEET according to the manufacturer's directions. Children should not apply DEET to themselves. Repellents that contain Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus have also been determined to be effective.

Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.

For more information on West Nile Virus or eastern equine encephalitis, call the NH Department of Health and Human Services toll-free West Nile Virus Information Line at 866*273*NILE (6543), or visit the West Nile Virus Website at www.dhhs.nh.gov.