Dad fighting for his life after contracting 3 mosquito-borne viruses
by 
A FATHER is fighting for his life after contracting three mosquito-borne illnesses from a single bite.
Joe Casey, 54, reportedly
3
3
“He’s my brother. It’s very difficult, especially because it’s from a mosquito,” Casey’s sister-in-law, Angela Barker told CBS affiliate WAFB.
“He was positive for EEE, for West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis, but the CDC or the infectious disease doctors, they don’t know which one is making him this sick.”
According to Barker, Casey first reported not feeling well early last month but was not admitted to the hospital until more recently.
Barker told the outlet that doctors reported swelling in his brain which has rendered him unable to speak.
Read More on Viruses
“My brother-in-law is not a small man, and to see someone that you love be as sick as he is and not be able to talk, to move, to communicate for over three weeks is terrifying and gut-wrenching,” Barker said.
Despite the long road to recovery ahead of him, Casey’s family remains optimistic for a full recovery.
Casey’s family is now attempting to spread the word about his condition.
“He just got bit by a mosquito,” his sister-in-law stated.
Be safe. Cover up. Wear bug spray. It can happen to anybody, and that’s the scariest thing.”
The family has since started a GoFundMe to help pay his medical expenses.
Teen paralyzed after catching West Nile Virus as mosquito-borne illness kills 3 & sickens dozens – symptoms to watch for
As of Tuesday, the family has reached $30,230 of its $50,000 goal.
Casey is not the first New Hampshire resident to be diagnosed.
Last week, medical authorities announced that Stephen Perry, 41, had died after contracting the eastern equine encephalitis virus.
Officials in the Kensington neighborhood — where both cases originated — confirmed that one mosquito pool they tested came back positive for eastern equine encephalitis.
Preventative Measures:
The following measures are recommended by the CDC to avoid contracting West Nile Virus.
- Use of mosquito repellent
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Treat clothing with permethrin (not for direct use on skin)
- Limit outdoor exposure from dusk to dawn
- Use air conditioning
- Install window and door screens
- Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting
- Reduce mosquito breeding sites around the home – anywhere with standing or collected water where eggs can be laid
Authorities have notified residents of the danger and raised the threat level to high.
RISING CONCERNS
The news of the two infected residents in the US comes as eight people across Europe have succumbed to the West Nile Virus.
Reports from Spain say that one of the victims was a 71-year-old resident of Coria del Río.
The person’s death follows the death of a 71-year-old woman from Dos Hermanas, an 86-year-old woman infected in La Puebla del Río, and an 87-year-old woman from Coria del Río.
SYMPTOMS
West Nile is transmitted from the infected mosquitos to humans when they are bitten.
According to the ECDC, most cases of the illness occur between July and September and include symptoms like fever, body aches, vision loss, and other noticeable changes.
Read More on The US Sun
Like the West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis are also transferred to humans by infected mosquitos.
The CDC reports fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness as possible symptoms.
3
