On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul's office reported that Eastern Equine Encephalitis - or EEE - had caused the death of an Ulster County, New York resident prompting the state health commissioner to declare it as an imminent threat to public health until the end of November.
Cases of the rare and deadly mosquito-borne illness have also been found in Vermont, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Massachusetts. It was the first case identified in New York since 2015.
Once contracted, the illness can cause fever, headache, diarrhea and vomiting, as well as affecting the central nervous system. There are currently no vaccines or medications available to treat EEE.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has faculty with expertise to offer insight into this issue, including:
- Eric Yager, PhD, Chair of Allied Health Sciences
An associate professor of microbiology, Dr. Yager teaches coursework in virology and immunology. His research is focused on the pathogenesis of, and host defense against, human enveloped RNA viruses. Several notable human diseases are caused by enveloped RNA viruses: influenza, AIDS, hepatitis C, dengue hemorrhagic fever, congenital Zika syndrome, and COVID-19. Novel insights into the relationship between viruses and human cells has the potential to lead to improved therapeutics and vaccines against these diseases.
Dr. Yager is available for Zoom, telephone and studio interviews.
- David Butler, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP, Associate Professor
As an associate professor specializing in infectious disease, Dr. Butler's work focuses on multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria; antimicrobial pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics; epidemiology and outcomes research through healthcare databases; and novel approaches to translational, clinical, and patient-centered outcomes research. While there are no vaccines or medications for EEE, Dr. Butler can discuss data that exists and what treatment could look like.
He is available for Zoom, telephone and studio interviews.