Author: Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

Health authorities in the United States are issuing warnings and closing public parks due to a rare but potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease. This week, a resident of the US state of New Hampshire died after being hospitalised with eastern equine encephalitis. Cases have also been detected in other states. But what is eastern equine encephalitis? How is it spread? What, as the name suggests, do horses have to do with it? And is it a problem for Australia? What is eastern equine encephalitis? Eastern equine encephalitis is caused by a virus typically only found in some eastern parts of the…