LANSING (WWJ) Michigan health officials are reporting the state's first human case of a serious and often fatal mosquito-borne illness in five years.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed a "locally acquired case" of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) for the first time since 2021, in Northern Michigan's Roscommon County.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive, called it "one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S." with a 30% fatality rate.
State health officials have been monitoring EEE in humans, mosquitos, domestic animals and wildlife. Until now, no animal EEE activity has been detected in Michigan in 2026.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are leading the effort.
Mosquito trapping and testing is also underway in Roscommon County to "assess the risk level in the area."
According to MDHHS, only a few human cases show up each year in the United States. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills and nausea. In severe cases, the disease may cause inflammation of the brain, signaled by disorientation, seizures or coma.
Health officials say the best way to prevent EEE and other mosquito-borne illnesses include: using EPA-registered insect repellents (DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone); wearing long clothes when outdoors; and ensuring your windows and doors have screens. If you do not have window screens, use bed nets.
They also said to eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding including: water in bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, wading pools and old tires.
You can find the CDC's information on EEE here, and information on the illness in Michigan here.
The illness is spread through the bite of a mosquito.
The illness is spread through the bite of a mosquito.
