New case of mosquito-borne illness reported in Southwest Michigan – MLive.com, Mlive.com

CALHOUN COUNTY, MI – An eighth case of Eastern equine encephalitis has been confirmed in Southwest Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The latest diagnosis belongs to an adult resident of Calhoun County. The seven prior cases have been found in Barry, Cass, Van Buren, Berrien and Kalamazoo counties.

Three of those confirmed cases have resulted in deaths.

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, with a 33 percent fatality rate in people who become ill, according to the MDDHS.

“The increasing geographic spread and increasing number of EEE cases in humans and animals indicate that the risk for EEE is ongoing, ”said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “We continue to urge Michiganders to protect themselves against mosquito bites until the first hard frost.”

As of Sept. 20, EEE has also been confirmed in 21 animals from 11 counties: Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Genesee, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Montcalm, St. Louis Joseph, and Van Buren.

There is an EEE vaccine available for horses, but not for people. Additional animal cases are also under investigation.

As a result of the outbreak, the MDHHS isencouraging local officials in the affected counties to consider postponing, rescheduling or cancellingoutdoor activities occurring at or after dusk, particularly activities that involve children.

All Kalamazoo-area schools, and many surrounding schools, made the call to do as such earlier this week.

Residents are encouraged to take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites. This includes:

• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other US Environmental Protection Agency-approved product to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.
• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.
• Use nets and / or fans over outdoor eating areas.

Signs of EEE include the sudden onset of fever, chills, body and joint aches which can progress to a severe encephalitis, resulting in headache, disorientation, tremors, seizures and paralysis. Permanent brain damage, coma and death may also occur in some cases.