Sullivan, N.Y. – Rare Encephalitis Claims Life
A man in Madison County has sadly passed away after contracting eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), marking the first human fatality from this mosquito-borne virus in Central New York since a Salina resident died in 2015. Earlier, in 2011, a four-year-old girl from Oswego County also lost her life to the virus. Over the past five decades, only four others have succumbed to it.
The most recent statewide death linked to EEE took place in Ulster County in 2024.
Samantha Field, a spokesperson for Madison County, announced on Tuesday that an “elderly Madison County man who contracted EEE passed away due to complications from the virus.”
The deceased has been identified as George Caswell Baker Jr., as confirmed by Erick Haas, president of the Chittenango Fire Department.
Baker, an Army veteran, dedicated more than 50 years to the fire department and served as the department’s chaplain.
At 79 years old, he was still actively involved with the department. Haas noted that Baker not only led prayers but also engaged with the community and assisted in managing emergency scenes.
“He was responding to emergencies right up until he passed,” Haas reflected. “He ensured we had the right tools and that everything was being done safely while also helping with traffic control.”
EEE is an uncommon but serious virus, with about one-third of those infected dying from the disease, and many survivors experiencing brain damage. There’s currently no vaccine or specific treatment available.
Transmission of EEE occurs from birds to mosquitoes, which can then infect horses and humans through bites.
Central New York has one of the longest histories of EEE in the U.S., particularly around the Cicero swamp and along the Oswego County border.
Experts have indicated that climate change is contributing to an increase in mosquito populations and extending the mosquito season, raising the risk of EEE transmission.
Health officials in Central New York are urging the public to remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, even as temperatures cool.
