Rare Insect-Borne Illness on the Rise

Workers whose jobs take them outdoors frequently, as well as facility managers responsible for insect control and pesticide spraying, will want to take note of a rare mosquito-borne illness that has led to the death of eight people in the United States.

The eight are among 10 people confirmed to have contracted equine encephalitis, CNN reports. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically receives reports of five to 10 human cases of the disease each year, with about 30% of cases resulting in death. This year, the deaths occurred in eastern and midwestern states, with three victims in Massachusetts, three in Michigan, one in Connecticut, and one in Rhode Island.

Symptoms of the illness include a high fever, chills, and nausea. Severe cases can cause brain swelling that results in seizures or a coma that can lead to brain damage.

Mosquitoes are among the pests facility managers battle. Eliminating sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs can cut down on their population near your facility. Learn how technology is bringing about new methods of insect control, such as pest databases, insect growth regulators, and genetic modification.