KENSINGTON, N.H. (WBZ) – A father of four from New Hampshire was hospitalized after he was bitten by a mosquito. Now, he is testing positive for three mosquito-borne viruses, including eastern equine encephalitis.
Angela Barker fights back her tears as she speaks about her brother-in-law, 54-year-old Joe Casey, who is fighting for his life in the hospital. His family says he started to feel sick in early August after he was bitten by a mosquito.
“He’s my brother. It’s very difficult, especially because it’s from a mosquito,” Barker said.
Doctors tell the family Casey tested positive for antibodies from three different mosquito-borne viruses.
“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,” Barker said.
Casey has swelling in his brain and is barely able to communicate. His family, including his wife and four children, believes he will have a long road to recovery ahead of him.
“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.
Last week, New Hampshire health authorities announced 41-year-old Stephen Perry died Aug. 19 after contracting the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus.
The state Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that Kensington has at least one mosquito pool that has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis. Postcards have gone out to all residents, and the threat level has been raised to high.
Casey’s family wants to warn people to be careful.
“He just got bit by a mosquito,” Barker said. “Be safe. Cover up. Wear bug spray. It can happen to anybody, and that’s the scariest thing.”
The family is now raising money through GoFundMe and thank the community for the outpouring of love they’ve received.
Health officials in New England say mosquitoes will continue to pose a health risk until at least the first frost.
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