The eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEE, has put residents in the Northeast on alert after news of a death in New Hampshire and cases in three other states.

On average, about 11 human cases are reported annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. This year several people, horses and mosquitos around the Northeast have tested positive for the disease.

The majority of human and animal cases have been concentrated in New England.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announcedon Tuesday that a resident of Hampstead was sent to the hospital due to a severe central nervous system disease and subsequently passed away due to the illness.

The department declined to release the identity or the time of death of the resident.

"We believe there is an elevated risk for (EEE) infections this year in New England given the positive mosquito samples identified," New Hampshire state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in the release. "The risk will continue into the fall until there is a hard frost that kills the (mosquitoes). Everybody should take steps to prevent mosquito bites when they are outdoors.”

What is EEE?

The eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEE for short, is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most cases of the virus typically occur in eastern or Gulf Coast states.

Although it is a rare virus, it is a lethal one. According to the CDC, approximately 30% of people who contract the virus die and many survivors suffer ongoing neurologic problems.

As of now, there are no vaccines to prevent the disease and no medicines are available to treat EEE.

The CDC says the best way to reduce the risk of infection is to prevent mosquito bites.

What are the symptoms of EEE?

According to the CDC, the symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis include the following:

• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Behavioral changes
• Drowsiness

Where are the cases of EEE?

The death announced in New Hampshire was not included in the CDC's latest collection of EEE case data, which was current as of Aug. 27. The agency notes that cases may not immediately be reflected in its EEE dashboard despite being announced by state or local health departments.

How can I protect myself from EEE?

The most effective way to protect yourself from EEE is by preventing mosquito bites from happening in the first place, according to the CDC. The virus is contracted by humans when bitten by an infected mosquito, these are most likely to happen from dusk to dawn.

The CDC encourages people to take the following precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect against potential exposure to the mosquito-borne illness:

• Use insect repellent
• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Use air conditioning and winder screens to prevent mosquito bites indoors
• Dump out containers of water near your home to eliminate breeding grounds

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @fern_cerv_.