A rare and deadly mosquito-borne illness, the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), has claimed the life of an Ottawa resident, marking the city's first confirmed human case.

The Eastern equine encephalitis virus is transmitted to horses through mosquito bites but it is extremely rare to find human infection.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark County Public Health officials say there is one confirmed case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in the Lanark County