(WWJ) Aerial spraying to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis is set to proceed Monday evening, but not in Kalamazoo County where residents said they don't want it.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said spraying of organic pesticides by low-flying aircraft, planned to begin Sunday evening, was delayed due to the rain.
The spraying is now expected to begin at dusk on Monday, Sept. 30, in Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties; a portion of the area designated by health officials as high-risk.
**UPDATED MAP OF TARGET AREA**
The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department said Monday that there will be no aerial treatment with insecticide in Kalamazoo County, due to a large number of residents who opted out.
"The number of resident opt-out notifications received by MDHHS comprises a large enough geographic distribution in which aerial spraying would no longer be an effective measure to reduce adult mosquito populations in Kalamazoo County." K-Zoo health said, in a news release. "Therefore, despite the distribution of known human and animal cases, Kalamazoo County will be unable to continue with the aerial spraying plan."
Also identified for aerial insecticide treatment, Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Montcalm and Newaygo counties could yet be sprayed if they don't opt out.
As for what they're spraying, the MDHHS says it is safe for people. Mosquito control professionals will apply the organic pesticides Merus 3.0 as an ultra-low volume spray -- very fine aerosol droplets that stay suspended in the air and kill adult mosquitoes on contact. Merus 3.0 contains 5 percent pyrethrins, which are chemicals found in some chrysanthemum flowers.
In general, health risks are not expected during or after spraying. No special precautions are recommended; however, anyone with known sensitivities to pyrethrins can reduce potential for exposure by staying indoors during spraying, from 8 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. the next morning.
Treatment schedules are weather dependent and may change, officials said. Updated schedules will be posted at Michigan.gov/EEE.
This comes as EEE, a mosquito-borne virus fatal in 33% of people who get sick, has been confirmed in nine people in Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. Three of those people have died.
In addition, cases have occurred in animals in Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Genesee, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Montcalm, Newaygo, St. Joseph, Van Buren and most recently Livingston County.
Until the first freeze of the year, all Michigan residents are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites, including avoiding outdoor evening activities when possible and using insect repellents with DEET.
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