The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a locally acquired case of eastern equine encephalitis or EEE in a Roscommon County resident.Officials are now reminding Michiganders to take steps to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases.
This is the first EEE human case reported in Michigan since 2021.
State and local health departments, along with other state departments, have been monitoring and will continue to monitor for signs of EEE in humans, mosquitoes, domestic animals and wildlife.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, says, “EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., with a 30% fatality rate among people who become ill.”
Experts say the best way to prevent EEE, or any other mosquito-borne illness, is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take steps to avoid mosquito bites, including using certain DEET insect repellents and eliminating sources of standing water that might support mosquito breeding.
You can find more information about EEE activity in the state at Michigan.gov/EEE
