Eastern Equine Encephalitis

New England is currently experiencing a wave of mosquitoes that have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).  EEE is a disease mosquitoes can pass to humans that causes swelling of the brain and may result in death.  Connecticut state health officials are currently advising residents to take precautions against exposure to mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and avoiding the outdoors from between one hour before sunset until dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.  Early symptoms may include high fever, neck stiffness, headache, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting.

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Infectious-Diseases/ID-Home/Eastern-Equine-Encephalitis-EEE–Fact-Sheet

https://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis/gen/pre.html

When an infectious disease is contracted on the job, it may be a compensable Workers’ Compensation injury.  This applies to mosquito-born illnesses, such as EEE, Zika Virus and West Nile Virus, and also to illnesses caused by ticks, such as Lyme Disease.

In Connecticut, a school has been found negligent after it failed to adequately warn and protect a student from an identified insect related illness.