A Connecticut dad tragically died after a mosquito carrying a dangerous virus bit him five years ago. Richard Pawulski, 49, was bitten while working in his yard. He passed away on Monday due to a rare disease called Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which can cause severe brain damage.
Last month, New York saw its first death from EEE in almost ten years. Health experts are worried about the recent increase in cases of this virus, which is spread by mosquitoes.
Richard’s daughter, Amelia, 18, said, “Your life can change in the blink of an eye, and that’s exactly what happened to us.”
Richard had been very sick since 2019. He developed many serious health problems, including a heart infection, liver failure, and brain damage. His health continued to decline, and he eventually died from a tough-to-treat infection called MRSA.
Richard first got sick in August 2019. He had a high fever and severe headaches soon after being bitten by the mosquito. He was rushed into surgery to relieve swelling in his brain but ended up in a coma for two months. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong at first but later realized he had EEE when more cases started appearing in the state.
Though Richard survived the initial illness, he was left with long-term health issues. Over the past five years, he has been in and out of hospitals due to seizures, pneumonia, and other problems. His brain injury also made it hard for him to remember things. Despite everything, he could tell his family how much he loved them in his final days.
EEE is a rare but very serious illness, and it can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30% of people with EEE die from it. Infected mosquitoes, like other illnesses such as West Nile virus spread it.
This year, health officials have noticed a rise in EEE infections, with at least 10 cases confirmed across the U.S. In New York, infected mosquitoes have been found in at least 15 counties this year, much higher than usual.
Experts don’t know why there has been an increase in cases, but they’re urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Dr. Roy Gulick, an infectious disease expert, said that wearing long sleeves and using strong mosquito repellent can help reduce the risk of getting bitten. Since there is no vaccine for EEE, taking these precautions is important, especially during the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active.
While the cooler weather will soon kill off the mosquitoes, people are still at risk until winter fully arrives.
