CONCORD, N.H. (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Friday, health officials in New Hampshire confirmed the state's first case of the Jamestown Canyon Virus.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said the patient is an adult from Loudon who was hospitalized for "neurological symptoms," and is now recovering at home.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, JCV is a mosquito-borne virus that includes early symptoms of fever, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue.
In rare instances, JCV can cause severe disease, including infection of the brain (encephalitis) or infection of the lining around the brain (meningitis.) The CDC says there are currently "no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat the JVC infection."
New Hampshire's first case of JCV was reported on the same day Massachusetts detected its first mosquito sample with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.
"In addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are other infectious disease threats... including from mosquito and tick bites," said New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. "When people are out of their homes, they should continue to take steps to not only protect themselves and others from COVID-19, but also protect themselves from mosquito and tick bites.”
In Loudon, the risk of transmission of infections from mosquitoes to people, also known as the “arbo-viral risk level,” is now considered "high."
In the surrounding towns of Gilmanton, Chichester, Canterbury, Barnstead, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Concord, Northfield, and Belmont, the risk level will increase to "moderate."
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