Hillsborough health alert issued after baby dies from mosquito-borne disease

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. - Two pilots with Hillsborough County were busy spraying pesticide across the Brandon area Friday morning after a Brandon area baby died from a rare mosquito borne illness.

The pilots left the airport in their King Air C90 and wrapped up their flight around 8 a.m.

This is the second death from the rare illness Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Hillsborough County.

A few weeks ago a woman living in the northern part of the county died after a mosquito infected her.

The alarming thing about Triple E is that there is not a vaccine, and if you get it, doctors say there is a good chance you will die or have brain damage.

The two deaths mean the county has issued a mosquito borne illness alert.

To protect yourself, wear bug repellant with deet, avoid going outside during dusk and dawn, remove standing water around your home, and wear long sleeves if you have to go outside.

If you have any severe flu-like symptoms, get medical attention immediately.

Although the county is on alert, doctors say you need to remember that only 5-10 people die from Triple E each year. So while having two people die in the same county in one summer is alarming, it is rare.