Another human case of mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, has been confirmed in a Cass County resident, health officials said Tuesday. This is the 10th human case of EEE confirmed in Michigan this year.
There have been four deaths this year due to the virus.
This comes on the heels of the completion of aerial spraying to combat the virus . According to Michigan.gov, treatment spraying over 14 Michigan counties was completed Tuesday, Oct. 8. That spray covered more than 557,000 acres. The most recent confirmed case was found in Cass County, which is one of the treated areas.
There are also five additional EEE cases confirmed in horses in Jackson, Kent and Tuscola counties.
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EEE is the most dangerous mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., with a 33 percent fatality rate.
Health officials advise people to follow these guidelines to protect themselves:
- Avoiding being outdoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitos that carry the EEE virus are most active.
- Applying insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered product to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.
- Maintaining window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside.
- Emptying water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.
- Using nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.
According to the state, there are no other areas slated for treatment at this time.
