Mosquito expert says triple-E threat remains

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Mosquitoes continue to pose a health threat in New Hampshire, even though there have been no reports so far this summer of humans becoming infected with Eastern equine encephalitis, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne illness.

Sarah McGregor, owner of Dragon Mosquito Control in North Hampton, which traps and tests mosquitoes in 28 New Hampshire communities, said her company found a record number of mosquitoes carrying triple-E this year.

“We have never seen those sorts of numbers before,” she said. “It’s scary.”

Dragon Mosquito Control monitors mosquito pools from June 1 to Oct. 1. McGregor says the peak season for mosquitoes is the first week of September, when many children are returning to school.

She says heavy rain along the seacoast has provided space for mosquitoes to breed and could present an increased risk for triple-E during back-to-school week.

“The timing of that rain with the start of school – that couldn’t be worse,” she said. “You are going to see more mosquitoes hatching next week.”

Though triple-E has been around for decades, the disease hadn’t claimed a life in the state in 25 years until last year, when it killed a 20-year-old Newton woman and an 80-year-old man from Hooksett died. Five others were hospitalized for triple-E, including a 5-year-old boy who was left brain-damaged.