There are growing concerns in the Southeastern corner of Connecticut this weekend about the potentially deadly Triple E virus.
Eastern equine encephalitis is an extremely rare mosquito borne virus that has infected more than two dozen people this year. Among them are two in our state, one of whom died Friday.
Patricia Shaw was 77 years old and on Sunday, her community gathered to remember her at her church in East Lyme.
“We are here to pray for her family because it’s not easy, of course, with sudden loss,” Fr. Brian Maxwell at St. Matthias Church said.
“Pat was a very kind and gentle woman. She loved bringing her dog, Angel, here and read books and was very talkative,” said Fr. Brian of the late mother and wife.
Triple E kills a third of all people who get it. Those who do survive it can often have long term neurological problems.
Before this year, the last time someone in Connecticut had been infected and died from the virus was back in 2013. That person was bitten in early October.
Local
State health officials said mosquitoes stop being active after the first heavy frost of the year.
Until then, families in the affected areas of the state have been advised to avoid outdoor activity from dusk until dawn and schools have shifted their sport practice schedules to end earlier.
