LANSING, Mich. — Someone in Montcalm County has died of EEE, the state said Friday.
It was the second human case of the disease in Michigan this year.
Officials did not give details about the victim.
“Our sympathies to the family and friends of this Michigan resident,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, which is why we made the decision to conduct aerial treatment last month. We urge Michiganders to continue to take precautions against mosquitos.”
Those precautions include avoiding standing water and wearing long sleeves and bug repellant.
The first confirmed case was a man in Barry County.
Officials also confirmed the first case of the disease in the Upper Peninsula – a horse in Baraga County.
Not only is this the first case of EEE found in the UP this year, but also the first case of the disease ever found in Baraga County.
This shows that the mosquitos carrying EEE continue to be active despite the state’s aerial treatments last month.
The mosquitos will continue to be active until the first hard freeze, when temperatures remain below 28 degrees for at least a few hours.
Last year, Michigan has a record number of EEE cases: 10 human and 50 animal.
The health department has found 36 animal cases across 15 counties so far this year.
