Michigan health officials have confirmed the state's first human case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) since 2021 in a Roscommon County resident, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Eastern equine encephalitis is spread by infected mosquitoes. According to state health officials, the disease has a 30% fatality rate among people who become ill. People infected can experience fever, headache, chills, and nausea, with symptoms potentially progressing to brain inflammation marked by disorientation, seizures, and coma.
The state said no animal EEE activity had been detected in Michigan before this case. Additional mosquito trapping and testing is underway in Roscommon County to assess the level of risk in the area.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the state health department, said: "EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., with a 30% fatality rate among people who become ill."
The state recommends residents use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone. Other preventive measures include wearing long sleeves and pants, maintaining tight-fitting screens on doors and windows, and eliminating standing water around homes that can support mosquito breeding.