Hunters Warned As Deadly Virus Spreads Through PA

HARRISBURG, PA — Hunters in Pennsylvania are urged to take precautions against a rare mosquito-borne virus and report any strange-acting wild animals they encounter, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a warning issued Tuesday.

The warning was issued after Eastern equine encephalitis, also known as EEE, has been documented across the state in recent weeks.

In addition to taking precautions and notifying the game commission of animals behaving strangely, hunters should report any dead wild animals they believe to be infected with EEE.

The disease has been found in wild turkeys in Erie County, a wild deer in Luzerne County, captive pheasants in Monroe County and horses in Carbon County, state officials said.

"Because of the high mortality rate in horses and humans, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States," according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

RELATED: Deadly Mosquito-Borne EEE Virus Confirmed In PA: What To Know

While most people infected with the the virus show no signs of illness, as many as 5 percent of those infected can develop flu-like symptoms, and the virus can cause death.

The main symptoms are a high fever, stiff neck, headache and fatigue. Symptoms typically show up three to 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito.

To reduce the potential for contracting the disease, hunters should use insect repellent when outdoors and cover exposed skin, especially at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

While EEE is not transmitted by direct contact, hunters should take precautions when field-dressing animals they harvest to avoid contracting potentially infectious diseases.

According to the Game Commission, hunters should:

• Wear gloves when field dressing, skinning and/or processing game
• Clean knives thoroughly before and after using them for skinning, dressing and processing, or use different knives for each step, then clean them well afterward. Hand-wash first, then wash them in a dishwasher
• Thoroughly wash hands after field dressing, skinning and processing game
• Cook wild game meat thoroughly to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees

There is no evidence people can become infected with EEE from preparing or eating infected meat, the game commission said. However, any risk of infection can be eliminated by proper handling and thorough cooking of meat before it is consumed.

Those who encounter wild birds or mammals they believe might be infected with the disease or have died from it should contact their nearest game commission region office.

EEE can cause illness and death in some bird species — most often pigeons, pheasants, turkeys and quail, the game commission said. "Anyone finding dead birds of these species, or live birds with staggering gait, drooping wings, twisted neck or tremors, should please contact the nearest Game Commission region office so they can be tested for the EEE virus."

Deer infected with the virus might act confused, salivate, walk in circles or stumble, have a head tilt, appear to be blind or emaciated, have difficulty breathing or suffer seizures. Any dead deer or live deer with these signs should be reported to the game commission.

Find Game Commission contact information here