Michigan officials urge residents to stay indoors due to EEE virus

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Michigan health officials have urged residents to stay indoors after confirming 22 cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in horses in 10 counties and one person under monitoring.
• According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the fatality rate of EEE virus is 33 percent among patients.
• The department also said that the 22 cases in horses this year were twice as many as the cases from the same period last year.

According to reports, Michigan health authorities are urging residents to remain indoors given the confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in 22 horses in 10 counties, and one human case that is under observation in Barry County.

As of Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed the number of reported cases in an announcement.

Based on the tracking by the MDHHS, the Eastern equine encephalitis is one of the most fatal mosquito-borne diseases in the country ━ registering over a 33 percent fatality rate among confirmed patients.

Aerial treatment will start on Wednesday night in areas that are “high-risk” to restrain the spread of the deadly virus, the officials said.

USA Today reported that the MDHHS has urged residents in Barr County as well as in counties such as Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Oakland to suspend any out-of-home activities at night to avoid further transmission of the virus.

“MDHHS continues to encourage local officials in the affected counties to consider postponing, rescheduling or canceling outdoor activities occurring at or after dusk, particularly those involving children, to reduce the potential for people to be bitten by mosquitoes,” MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health Joneigh Khaldun said in a statement, as USA Today reported.

According to the department, those who are aged 15 and below and above 50 are at the highest risk of severe disease. The department also said that the chance of getting bitten is highest for people who work and stay outdoors in affected areas.

The MDHHS added that this year’s reported cases in horses were twice as the confirmed cases during the same period last year. Over one-fourth of the US’ Eastern equine encephalitis cases came from Michigan last year, the state said.

Source: The Hill