Michigan to fight EEE by spraying 14 counties to kill mosquitoes – Detroit Free Press, Freep.com

Aerial pesticides will be sprayed in 14 Michigan counties Sunday to kill mosquitoes, as state officials work to combat the threat of mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalitis.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it is joining with 12 local health departments to begin the aerial spraying program.

Spraying will begin at 8 pm Sunday in the following 14 counties, all of which are considered at high risk for EEE: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Montcalm, Newaygo, St. Louis

Thirteen of the 14 counties have confirmed cases of EEE in people, animals or both. Parts of one county, Allegan, are within a 2.5-mile radius of a known EEE infection, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the MDHHS.

The dangerous virus, which kills 33% of people who are sickened by it, has been confirmed in nine people in Michigan. Of them, three have died.

In addition, cases have been found in 27 animals, including two Mexican gray wolf pups at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.

The spraying program will be conducted by low-flying aircraft, beginning in the early evening and continuing up until 4: 30 am the next morning in areas of concern. Although the plan is to spray from Sunday night to Monday morning, state officials said the timing could change depending on weather.

Mosquito-control professionals will apply the approved pesticides as an ultra-low volume spray. The sprayers dispense very fine aerosol droplets that stay suspended in the air and kill adult mosquitoes on contact.

Because of continuing warm weather and the rise in the number of EEE cases and growing number of high-risk areas in Michigan, pesticide spraying was chosen as a tactic to try to slow the rate of infections. Other states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have recently done the same to combat EEE, health officials said.

“ We are taking this step to help protect the health and safety of Michiganders in areas of the state that are being affected by this dangerous mosquito-borne disease, ”said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, in a news release. “The continuing number of cases in both people and animals indicate an ongoing risk for EEE exposure. We continue to urge residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites until a hard frost. ”

The pesticide being used is Merus 3.0 which is an organic pesticide containing 5% pyrethrin. Pyrethrins are chemicals found naturally in some chrysanthemum flowers. They are a mixture of six chemicals that are toxic to insects. Pyrethrins are commonly used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, ants and many other pests. Pyrethrins have been registered for use in pesticides since the 1950.

In general, health risks are not expected during or after spraying, the MDHHS said. No special precautions are recommended; however, residents and individuals who have known sensitivities to pyrethrins can reduce potential for exposure by staying indoors during spraying. Aerial spraying is not expected to have any impacts on surface water or drinking water.

It will take place in the nighttime hours, when mosquitoes are more active and when fish are less likely to be surface feeding and honeybees are likely to be in their hives.

Property owners who have small ornamental fishponds are advised to cover them during

the night of spraying.

Health officials said it is not necessary to bring animals indoors during spraying,

but said concerned pet owners can do so.

Until the first hard frost of the year, MDHHS is continuing to encourage local officials in the affected counties to consider postponing, rescheduling or cancelling outdoor activities occurring at or after dusk, particularly activities that involve children. This would include events such as late evening sports practices or games or outdoor music practices.

The EEE virus is spread by infected mosquitoes. The only way to protect yourself is to avoid mosquito bites. Those younger than age 15 and older than (are at highest risk of severe disease following infection.)

Although the aerial spraying program may help to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes in the affected counties, health officials say it will not eliminate the risk.

Michiganders are advised to must continue to protect themselves from mosquito bites by:

• Avoid 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 US Environmental Protection Agency-approved product to exposed skin or clothing, and always following 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.

Symptoms of EEE infection include:

• The sudden onset of fever, chills
• Body and joint aches
• Headaches

Disorientation

• Tremors
• Seizures

************************ (Paralysis.)

Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing these symptoms should contact a medical provider. Permanent brain damage, coma and death may also occur in some

More information, including a Frequently Asked Questions document, are available at

Michigan.gov/EEE.

Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313 – 222 – 5997 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.

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