Mosquito-Borne Disease Detected in Alfred

Maine public health officials say mosquitoes collected in Alfred have tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis, a potentially fatal disease in humans. The Maine Center for Disease Control announced Monday that the mosquitoes were collected from a pool of water on July 16 and test results came back on Friday. Officials say this is the earliest EEE has been identified in Maine. People who develop the illness often have mild flu-like symptoms which can develop into inflammation of the brain, coma and death. Public health officials are urging residents to drain free-standing pools of water, cover exposed skin on the arms and legs when outside, and use insect repellant.