Mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise across the United States and much of the globe, causing some experts to be concerned that the pesky insect may be a growing public health threat. 

Earlier this week, the first person to be diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis virus, or EEE, in New York in nearly a decade died from the rare mosquito-borne infection. The incident spurred Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to issue a warning that the disease posed an imminent public health threat to the state.