Five years ago a United States resident died in Connecticut after a mosquito bite carried Eastern Equine Encephalitis, an uncommon viral disease that inflames the brain. The illness is spread by mosquitoes and has the potential to cause severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Even in northern states, warm seasons bring a small but real risk as mosquitoes become active. At the time, reports connected the fatal outcome to Eastern Equine Encephalitis, underscoring how a single bite can lead to devastating complications and long recoveries. Public health discussions around pest control, personal protection, and prompt reporting during peak mosquito season were part of the response to the event.
Richard Pawulski, 49, a Polish American, died on October 15 after a prolonged struggle with the aftermath of Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The illness began in 2019 when he was cleaning his backyard and was bitten by a mosquito. Within a day, he developed a pounding headache, nausea, and vomiting and was rushed to hospital. Imaging showed swelling of the brain, and doctors performed surgery to relieve pressure, but he never regained consciousness and spent months in a coma. Over the next five years, he moved between hospitals and nursing facilities as his condition fluctuated and complications arose. His health deteriorated further in the weeks before his death, as untreatable bacterial infections and other organ challenges overwhelmed his system.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a rare virus that targets the central nervous system. After infection, symptoms typically include fever, headache, confusion, and seizures. There is no specific antiviral treatment for humans; care centers on supportive therapies to manage symptoms and protect brain function. The disease carries a significant mortality risk, with roughly one in three people who develop symptomatic illness dying. Mosquito bites transmit the virus, and in some regions horses act as amplifying hosts that help drive viral circulation in the environment.
After spending two months in a coma, Pawulski did awaken, but the virus had already inflicted substantial damage to his brain and to other organs such as the kidneys and liver. In the following five years, he endured repeated hospital stays and rounds of therapies as doctors battled infections and other complications. His condition worsened when untreatable bacterial and staphylococcal infections overwhelmed his system, leading to organ failure. The case illustrates the long and arduous path that can follow a severe central nervous system infection, even after initial stabilization.
Data from 2024 show ten new confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases in the United States, with three fatalities including Pawulski. While the illness remains rare, the impact on families and communities is profound, and it underscores the ongoing need for vigilance in mosquito control and personal protection. Public health guidance continues to emphasize repellents, long sleeves, proper landscape management to reduce standing water, and timely reporting of unusual neurological symptoms during mosquito season.
Earlier discussions about insect bites and neurological pain have evolved into a clearer focus on mosquito-borne viruses and brain infections. The persistence of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in North America means that prevention through protective measures and community efforts remains essential. This real-world case in Connecticut serves as a stark reminder that a single bite can alter a life forever, highlighting the importance of awareness, prevention, and rapid medical attention when symptoms arise.