Warning Issued on Potentially Deadly Mosquito-Borne Virus in Michigan

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 — Some Michigan residents are being told to stay indoors after dark and protect themselves from mosquito bites as the state tries to contain the spread of the rare but potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

A suspected case of EEE in a resident of Barry County was announced earlier this week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), CNN reported.

The case “shows this is an ongoing threat to the health and safety of Michiganders and calls for continued actions to prevent exposure, including aerial treatment,” Joneigh Khaldun, M.D., the department’s chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, said in a statement. “MDHHS continues to encourage local officials in the affected counties to consider postponing, rescheduling, or canceling outdoor activities occurring at or after dusk, particularly those involving children, to reduce the potential for people to be bitten by mosquitoes.”

As of Sept. 15, EEE was confirmed in 22 horses across 10 counties, which is twice the number of animal cases recorded in the state by this time last year, CNN reported. Aerial treatment in several “high-risk areas” is underway to reduce mosquito populations, state officials said.

CNN Article
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

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